Medicare for Dummies

Author:Patricia Barry
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781119079361
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2015-08-17T21:25:51+00:00

Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)

PPOs are plans that offer managed care with fewer restrictions than HMOs. Regional PPOs cover large areas — maybe several states. Local PPOs operate within smaller areas, such as in one or several adjacent counties. In 2014, 31 percent of people enrolled in MA plans chose PPOs. These plans’ features include the following:

Eligibility: Like HMOs (see the preceding section), you must have Parts A and B and live within the service area of the plan you pick. You can’t join a PPO if you have kidney failure (ESRD), but you can stay in a PPO if you develop this illness after enrollment.

Choice of doctors and hospitals: You can go to a doctor, hospital, or other provider outside of the plan’s network — but if you do, it’ll cost you more in higher co-pays. You don’t need a referral to see a specialist. A PPO can give you its list of network providers so you can see in advance whether your preferred doctors and hospitals accept the plan. If a PPO drops any of your doctors from its network during the plan year, it must give you at least 60 days’ notice.

Extra benefits: Some plans offer vision, hearing, and/or dental services, though just how good this coverage is varies greatly among plans and some offer them as separate optional packages for an additional premium. Some plans offer other extras, like health club memberships.

Prescription drug coverage: Most PPOs include Part D drug coverage in their benefit packages, but not all do. If you join a plan that doesn’t, you can’t purchase coverage from a stand-alone Part D plan.

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