HMO Plans, Coverage, and Quotes
An HMO plan, otherwise known as a health maintenance organization, is the most comprehensive type of student health insurance. HMO health plans cover the cost of most health care expenses for a monthly premium. Most of the time, your main out-of-pocket costs with HMO insurance plans will consist of co-payments for prescription medications and doctor visits; these must be paid at the time of service. The cost of HMO student health insurance plans usually doesn’t depend on the quantity of health care services you use.
How does this type of health insurance for students work? You must select a primary care physician within your HMO plan network in order to fully utilize your HMO insurance plan. In order to have visits to specialists be covered by your HMO health insurance plan, your doctor must first give you a referral. The specialist must also be in-network. When buying college student health insurance, it’s important to check out the provider networks of several HMO health insurance companies. Medical costs are often lower with HMO plans, with lower-priced deductibles. However, going outside of the individual HMO plans’ network can wipe out most of that savings. You will have to pay the entire cost of out-of-network health care by yourself, except in the case of emergencies. For example, seeing an out-of-network doctor can cost up to several hundred dollars per visit (the doctor’s full fee), but you would only have to shell out a nominal co-payment (usually from $10 to $40) if you see one that’s in-network. That is why it’s so important to pick doctors and specialists within an HMO network when using your cheap student health insurance.
HMO health insurance plans cover emergencies while also having a focus on preventative care. This can be helpful to many students, especially if you’re living in a dorm. The average HMO plan covers screenings and treatments. If you have affordable student health insurance, you don’t have to forgo treatment because you can’t pay for the entire visit or exam up-front. It can also be more convenient than going to your campus health services office. Students with HMO health plans will probably have illnesses, such as menengitis or cancer, caught in their early stages. You can pay less in student health insurance costs while staying in better health in the long run. HMO plans are also more convenient than other kinds of student health insurance, because they don’t bog you down with extra claim paperwork to fill out. Instead, in-network services are covered automatically
The HMO health plan can be a good value if you are satisfied with its network and don’t mind the decreased level of control over your health care. Remember that the size and scope of provider networks varies between HMO insurance plans. Although HMO health insurance premiums are higher than other types of health insurance for college students, they are still cost-effective for any student who has a history of medical issues or just wants to be careful. Those who are young and healthy are able to take advantage of the cheapest student health insurance on the market. Some HMO insurance plans have wider networks than others. Some doctors contract with multiple student HMO plans, but other doctors only work with one network. There are also certain hospitals, labs, and express care/urgent care clinics in HMO networks that are covered. Before selecting an HMO plan, you should find out if your current primary care physician is included in its network, along with any specialists you may be currently seeing. Ideally, your plan includes coverage and providers in both the area you go to school and your hometown.
VitalOne can help you decide if an HMO student health insurance plan is right for you. Our licensed health insurance agents will provide you with a student health insurance quote and help you compare among HMO providers.
