Blue Shield HMO Plans are an affordable way for individuals and families to get healthcare coverage. HMO Plans let you get medical care at cheaper prices than other plans, such as Blue Shield PPO plans.
What Is A Blue Shield HMO Plan?
HMO health insurance, or Health Management Organization, gives you healthcare at low cost by offering a limited set of healthcare providers and by stressing preventative care. HMO plans usually have higher monthly premiums, but much lower put-of-pocket expenses for services. This makes them a good choice for families or people with pre-existing medical conditions.
In an HMO plan, you choose a primary care physician. This is your doctor for physicals and routine care. Your primary care physician also authorizes specialist care, and recommends specialists within the HMO provider network. By controlling the skyrocketing costs of elective care, HMO plans are able to make health insurance affordable to more people.
Unlike PPO plans, an HMO plan won’t cover any charges from healthcare providers outside of the network. For some people this can be an inconvenience – especially if they already have a doctor they like. But for other people, the tradeoff in savings and predictable annual costs are worth it.
The Blue Shield Advantage
Regular HMO plans require you to get a referral from your primary care physician to see a specialist. For many people, this was an extra headache they didn’t need.
Blue Shield HMO plans feature an extra advantage regular HMO plans don’t: Access+ Specialists. When you enroll in a Blue Shield HMO plan, joining an Access+ Specialist provider group lets you see Access+ Specialists anytime you choose, without a referral from your primary care physician.
Why Choose A HMO Health Plan?
HMO plans are a good choice for many people. With a Blue Shield HMO plan, you get:
- Copayments as low as $20 for a doctor’s visit
- $10 copayments for prescription drugs
- Special rates for children, to make the plan more affordable for families
- Access to a network of 25,000 doctors and 280 hospitals in California
Think a HMO plan is right for you? Get free Blue Shield quotes now and start comparing your options.