Types of Health Plans
A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
An HMO group health plan requires group members to obtain their health care services from doctors and hospitals affiliated with the HMO. Thus, members are required to designate a primary care physician within the HMO. Then, the primary care physician treats and directs health care decisions. In addition, the primary care physician coordinates referrals to specialties within the HMO network. Accordingly, HMOs offer access to a comprehensive package of covered health care services in return for a prepaid monthly amount (or “premium”). However, most HMOs charge a small co-payment depending upon the type of service provided.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
If you belong to a PPO group health plan, you will save the most money on healthcare if you use providers within the PPO network. Thus, if providers outside of the network are used, it is possible that those services may be covered only partially or not at all. Also, deductibles must be met on this plan before some services will be covered. PPOs require a co-pay for physician visits and some other healthcare services. However, the great thing about a PPO is it’s rich network of quality doctors and healthcare facilities, and the ability to utilize healthcare services outside of your deductible. For example, doctors visits.
How fully-funded plans work.
A fully-funded insurance plan is structured so that the insurance carrier assumes all the risk, and also services the plan and claims administration, in exchange for a per-member premium. Premiums can fluctuate based on the size of the company, employee health, and healthcare usage. Premiums are not refundable, even if benefits are not fully utilized by employees.
How self-funding works.
When employers self-fund their own group health plan, they will benefit from a significant savings in the overall cost of their benefit programs. For example, savings may be in premiums, increased cash flow and certain tax advantages. Additionally, employers have more control over the benefits that the plan offers. Typically, self-funding was not available to small employers in the past. However, today self-insured group health plans are considered to be good options for both small and large employers.
A self-funded group health plan requires the employer to become the insurer. Most often, employers will partner with a PPO to provide services for the plan. Then, a third party administrator (a TPA) is engaged to handle claims and processing. Self-insured employers run the risk of large catastrophic claims. As a result, they need to purchase stop-loss insurance to protect themselves in such an event. Even with the additional expense of stop-loss insurance, employers save a significant amount of money on premiums and other advantages.
