HMO vs. PPO: Which is right for you?

There are a lot of decisions to make when it comes to choosing a health insurance plan. One of the first decisions you will need to make is which type of plan is right for you.

You’ve probably heard the terms health maintenance organization (HMO) and preferred provider organization (PPO), but do you really understand the differences between them?

Before we get started:

What is an HMO?

Health maintenance organizations (HMO)* have a network of doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers who provide their services for a specific payment, which allows the HMO to maintain costs for its members. Cost and choice are the 2 features that set HMOS apart from other healthcare plans.

What is a PPO?

Preferred provider organizations (PPO) offer a network of healthcare providers to use for your medical care at a certain rate. Unlike HMO, a PPO offers you the freedom to receive care from any healthcare provider—in or out of your network.

* Please note, a referral may be required.

Get more with a Medicare Advantage plan

Medicare Advantage plans help expand your Medicare coverage beyond Original Medicare, often with extra benefits. Explore Humana’s Medicare Advantage plans in your area today!  

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HMO vs. PPO plans: What’s the difference?

Which one is cheaper? Which one provides the coverage you need? To help you decide, we’ve created a simple comparison chart that lays out the basic features of HMOs and PPOs. Once you have a better understanding of each plan type and how they work, it will be much easier to choose the plan that’s best for you and your family.

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HMO vs. PPO plans: What’s the difference?
Question
HMO health maintenance organization
PPO preferred provider organization
How much will this plan cost?
Do I have to use a primary care physician (PCP)?
Do I have to get referrals to use another doctor?
If I have a doctor or a specialist who is out of network, will I still be able to see him or her and have the costs covered?
Will I need to file claims?

Generally speaking, an HMO might make sense if lower costs are most important and if you don’t mind using a PCP to manage your care. A PPO may be better if you already have a doctor or medical team that you want to keep but doesn’t belong to your plan network.

Medicare HMO and PPO

Medicare also has both PPO and HMO options. If you are eligible or over the age of 65, you might want to check out Humana’s Medicare PPO plan or Humana’s Medicare HMO plan.

Making your decision

Now that you understand the major differences between the 2 types of insurance, you may have an idea of which 1 makes the most sense in your situation.

But if you’re still undecided about individual medical plans and would like even more information to make your decision, please visit our PPO overview page or our HMO overview page.

Humana answers your Medicare questions

How can we help?

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Licensed Humana sales agents are available daily, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

1-888-204-4062 (TTY: 711)

1-888-204-4062 (TTY: 711)

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