Sunday, February 8, 2009

What is a PPO

By Jeff Cline

A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) is a managed care product. It is health insurance available to consumers that have structured benefits and a professional network of medical professional.

These plans let you choose the medical professionals of your choice. They have a contracted network of professionals that offer negotiated rates for added savings. But even if you go out of the network you still get a reduced benefit to help with the expense.

This product has what is called an annual deductible amount. What this is, is a dollar amount that you are responsible for meeting before the insurance company will share the expense. So if you incur medical expenses during the year they will be deducted from the deductible. For example you may have to meet $2000 annually.

All of your incurred medical expense will go towards the deductible. If you met this in a year the insurer will then share the expenses with you. They pay 100%. More often the have a co insurance amount to met. They may split expenses 80/20 at this time. You would pay 20% and they would pay the 80% that remains.

Either way they will have an "annual maximum out of pocket" that you would be required to pay. So if you had a $3000 deductible and a $2000 co-insurance max you could pay up to $5000 out of your own pocket before the insurance company paid 100% of expenses.

Another way a PPO helps offset some of your out of pocket expense is by offering a co-payment. A co-payment is specific dollar amount you will pay for specified medical treatments. The most common co-payments are seen with an office visit or prescription medication.

Consumers love that with a PPO they can see and medical professional they choose. Even a specialist, without the need of a referral. They can go to a medical professional or facility that is not in network and still get some benefit.

A PPO is very popular and many people are buying them. You will need to know all the PPO facts. We have only covered the basics here. Compare the facts with your situation before making a decision to buy a PPO product. - 15224

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