5 ms·

HMOs are great if you're healthy and plan to remain that way for a while. I have the same deductible and co-pays as a PPO but pay about $200 less per month. The

HMOs are great if you're healthy and plan to remain that way for a while. I have the same deductible and co-pays as a PPO but pay about $200 less per month. The level of care is adequate for my needs, and I actually go to the doctor now because the HMO is integrated with the provider network, so I can book appointments online. Since the HMO also owns the lab and other facilities at the clinic everything that they do to me is covered. They even have an optometrist in case I need an eye exam. Their pharmacy is also really quick compared to most places.

vivism 8y ago
People don't plan to remain healthy?
- lotsofpulp 8y ago
  Based on most people's actions, it would appear not. Excessive eating, drinking, smoking, and insufficient exercise and sleep seem to apply to most people.
- pkaye 8y ago
  I'm in kidney failures (due to an auto-immune disease.) I have to do dialysis every day. I'm super careful with diet and lifestyle. But many people are not. My dietitian tells me stories of dialysis patients that go out for massive fast food meals before coming in for dialysis. Dialysis functions maybe at 10-20% of a normal kidney. Its meant to keep you alive not pull out wastes products from your excesses. It doesn't do a perfect job. These people are slowly just killing themselves.
taurath 8y ago
HMOs fail most often on mental health from anecdotes of friends on them. They force you through only one provider who may be qualified or not, and you get a "permanent record" which can actually really hurt your care in the future. If Jill the ARNP says you were awful and maybe faking a sympton, and she has lunch with a bunch of other doctors in the cafeteria, you're gonna get treated like crap.
- jschwartzi 8y ago
  Yeah, I can see how that would be an issue. The HMO I'm on actually specifically covers private practitioners because their in-house practitioners are totally full for months. And it was pretty damn easy to get an appointment. I just had to call in and get a preapproval.

vivism 8y ago

People don't plan to remain healthy?

lotsofpulp 8y ago
Based on most people's actions, it would appear not. Excessive eating, drinking, smoking, and insufficient exercise and sleep seem to apply to most people.
pkaye 8y ago
I'm in kidney failures (due to an auto-immune disease.) I have to do dialysis every day. I'm super careful with diet and lifestyle. But many people are not. My dietitian tells me stories of dialysis patients that go out for massive fast food meals before coming in for dialysis. Dialysis functions maybe at 10-20% of a normal kidney. Its meant to keep you alive not pull out wastes products from your excesses. It doesn't do a perfect job. These people are slowly just killing themselves.

taurath 8y ago

HMOs fail most often on mental health from anecdotes of friends on them. They force you through only one provider who may be qualified or not, and you get a "permanent record" which can actually really hurt your care in the future. If Jill the ARNP says you were awful and maybe faking a sympton, and she has lunch with a bunch of other doctors in the cafeteria, you're gonna get treated like crap.

jschwartzi 8y ago
Yeah, I can see how that would be an issue. The HMO I'm on actually specifically covers private practitioners because their in-house practitioners are totally full for months. And it was pretty damn easy to get an appointment. I just had to call in and get a preapproval.