| There are several health insurance plans | | | | it allows switch of doctors and hospitals and |
| available in the US: Managed Care, | | | | you can do this through the country. However |
| Fee-for-Service Plans, Health Maintenance | | | | you have to careful as only part of the |
| Organizations (HMOs), Point-of-Service Plans | | | | expenses are covered by the insurer and you |
| (POS), Preferred Provider Organizations | | | | have to carefully check the conditions of |
| (PPOs). | | | | your insurance policy not to end up with huge |
| | | | medical care costs that you have to pay. |
| Managed Care Plans. | | | | |
| | | | Health Maintenance Organizations. |
| Managed care is very popular in the United | | | | |
| States. This type of plan helps insurance | | | | Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) are |
| companies to control the medical care costs. | | | | prepaid plans. If you are a member you pay |
| All kind of plans have some sort of managed | | | | some fee every month. In return when you need |
| care program. Generally speaking you might be | | | | to use any kind of medical care it is |
| asked to take approval from your insurance | | | | arranged from the organization. The HMOs use |
| company before any medical care is received | | | | their group of doctors and practices or other |
| otherwise the costs may not be covered by | | | | doctors that have contact with the group. |
| them. | | | | Usually your family members are also covered |
| | | | by this kind of health insurance plan. |
| Fee-for-Service Plans. | | | | |
| | | | If you are insured under this plan you will |
| Fee-for-Service Plans is the traditional | | | | have to choose a primary doctor who will |
| health insurance type of plan in the US. | | | | monitor your health and refer you to |
| Under this plan the insurance company will | | | | specialist when needed. |
| pay your fees when you use medical care. | | | | |
| | | | Point-of-Service Plans. |
| This is a flexible medical insurance plan as | | | | |