5 Tips to Maximize HMO Benefits

​HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, is a company that gives you access to its hospital, clinic, and medical professional network. HMOs promises to pay your medical costs as long as you've purchased them from their network. Here are five tips you can use to maximize HMO benefits.

Maximize the Use of Primary Care Centers
Primary Care Centers, or PCCs, are clinics owned by HMOs. They have access to basic laboratories as well as primary care doctors. Many HMO providers would give unlimited consultations for free. Some of these services are internal medicine, family physician, and OB-Gyne consultations. Others include X-ray, urinalysis, fecalysis, and blood chemistry. They may also offer medical certificates for sick leaves.

Avoid the Emergency Room
If you go for consultations after the regular clinic hours, then some medical staff may direct you to go to the Emergency Room (ER) instead. ER consultations cost as much as five times the consultation at a doctor's clinic between 9 am to 5 pm. Thus, it's better to have your consultation within the regular clinic hours. This can help you minimize unnecessary expenses.

Prevention is Always Better Than Cure
The Greek Father of Medicine, Hippocrates, never made a mistake when he said: "Prevention is better than cure." Early detection of illness is always a better alternative to help members avoid any expensive medical procedure that will eat up your HMO coverage. Thus, it's best to have regular annual check-ups for peace of mind.

Opt for Cheaper Hospitals 
Unless the partner hospital of your HMO is a major hospital, you should opt for a less expensive one. Major hospitals can be up to three times as expensive compared to clinics and regular hospitals. However, major hospitals have access to the superior quality of equipment as well as better medical services. Weigh things first so that you can make an informed decision.

Be Part of the Regular Utilization Review
Your HMO may conduct a regular utilization review to assess statistics concerning HMO benefits. If they phone or email you to participate, you should. You can address your concerns through this. Your benefits consultant may recommend better wellness programs for you or may give you more tips for budgeting purposes.

Some Final Words
Your HMO stays with you as long as you’re affiliated with a particular company. Make the most of it by taking advantage of all its benefits. However, always be careful with your decisions as they can affect your finances. 

At Insurance Savings Group, we aim to provide comprehensive insurance policies that make your life easier. We want to help you get the insurance that fits your needs. You can get more information about our products and services by calling our agency at (661) 432-1474. Get your free quote today by CLICKING HERE.