HMO – Health Maintenance Organization

A Health Maintenance Organization (it used to be called Managed Care, but The Insurance Mom now refers to it as Mangled Care!).  An HMO requires that you see only doctors or hospitals on their list of providers, and sometimes at a specific facility. An HMO also requires that you choose a Primary Care Physician (often sight unseen), who will provide all of your medical care and refer you to an approved specialist if they think it’s necessary. Generally an HMO will not cover medical expenses incurred by seeing someone who is not in the HMO group. Usually an HMO will have limited coverage for emergency medical care when you travel outside your own coverage area. In The Insurance Mom’s opinion, when you choose an HMO you lose control over your own medical destiny.