Find the Michigan Health Insurance Plans Right for You
Michigan health insurance plans are usually available in several forms but most health benefits packages are one of three main types. These types include Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) programs, PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans and Indemnity programs, each with different benefits and restrictions. Each of these types offers acceptable health coverage for most people, but the programs differ in requirements, approved health providers and premium rate pricing.
With an HMO, only health care received from an approved network-affiliated health care provider will be covered, and all specialized health services must be referred by the assigned primary physician in order to be a covered service. With a PPO, health care is covered at a higher level when you go to a network provider with negotiated, discount network rates, but you may also use out-of-health network providers and receive a lower reimbursement of your health care expenses. With an Indemnity type plan, you may visit any health care provider you wish, and you will be covered for a fixed percentage reimbursement of your expenses. Of these different programs, HMO network plans will have the lowest premiums, while Indemnity insurance plans are quite comprehensive and come with the highest premium rates.
When choosing from HMO, PPO or Indemnity plans, you should first decide whether your preferred doctors and hospitals are included in the HMO or PPO provider network. Next, you can decide how much choice you would need in choosing health care specialists should the situation arise. Finally, you will want to evaluate the trade-off between having more flexibility in choosing doctors, specialists and hospitals versus the significantly more expensive premium prices associated with more flexibility.