December 19, 2008
Non US Citizen Health Insurance & PPO Hospitals
A preferred provider organization, or PPO, is a group of doctors, hospitals and medical care providers. These hospitals and doctors provide discounted immigrant health insurance billing rates to their respective insurance companies. There are both positive and negative aspects to PPO insurance plans.
Health insurance for immigrants that utilize PPO networks will sometimes reduce the amount of coverage provided if services are rendered by a provider outside of their respective network. For example, they may provide 100% coverage with an in-network doctor, but only 80% with a claim outside of the network. In emergency situations, the insured is not penalized for transferring to a medical facility within the network after initially going to the nearest hospital.
In exchange for higher co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses, some PPO plans allow a patient to seek medical attention outside of the network. Discounted billing rates have not been negotiated with plans that do not use PPO providers. This causes costs for the insurance company and the insured to be higher in the event of a claim.
Immigrant insurance plans companies typically prefer the PPO policies as they are able to obtain the discounted rates from hospitals and individual doctors. The savings result in a larger pool of coverage in terms of people and procedures. Most PPO systems contain more than the discount incentive to encourage use.
PPO insurance plans are able to offer more coverage to insured customers for their money. Savings from reduced network discounts is passed on to customers through lower premium rates. However, lower costs are not the only advantage to using PPO insurance for non U.S. citizen.
Another great reason for getting health insurance for non citizens through a PPO network is the convenience. When one goes to a hospital or doctor’s office within the network, the bill is sent straight to the insurance company. The insured person does not even need to think about it.
Other plans may allow the doctor or hospital to bill the patient directly. The patient must then submit the claim with the insurance company. PPO insurance for non US citizens typically reduces the chances of this happening.
Pros and cons of using a PPO insurance plan vary greatly. The insured must weigh these aspects carefully in determining the best plan for them. Non US citizen insurance plans offer ample choice for customers to choose from according to their preferences.
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