Georgia HMO

More and more residents in Georgian are choosing HMOs as their preferred health insurance coverage. As of 2006, HMO insurance accounted for over 18 percent of Georgia's population.

An HMO is a managed care organization that provides insurance coverage in the state of Georgia. Doctors, health care providers, hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers who have an agreement with Georgia HMO are called HMO participants. These participants form the HMO provider network. Georgia's HMO health insurance is probably the most affordable insurance coverage, when compared to traditional health insurance programs. A Georgia HMO requires a deductible but does not require any coinsurance.

The salient feature of an HMO plan in Georgia is that a patient must choose their Primary Care Physician (PCP), who will be in complete charge of their care, treatments, medications and specialist referrals. The PCP decides if and when a specialist is necessary in a patient's treatment cycle, and will handle the necessary referrals. All HMOs have agreements with doctors and hospitals. These form a specific list of providers, from which patients can choose. Patients who obtain healthcare from any provider who's not on this master list will not be covered under the HMO insurance the care received.

When you sign up for an HMO insurance, you're out of pocket expenses will be limited. HMOs emphasize preventive care plans as well as patient awareness and following healthy lifestyles. HMOs can include preventive care plans at no additional charge to the insured. HMOs are also easy to maintain, with less paperwork. Since a PCP takes care of all care aspects, it simplifies treatments and eliminates conflicts in patient care. Copayments and deductibles are small and this amount depends on the plan you've taken.

Patients are required to pay a copayment at the time of service. HMO network providers need to file their own claim so that your primary care physician and treating hospital can be paid for their service. The patient does not have to file a claim, and nor can the health care provider charge patients directly or post a bill for their services.

Georgia HMOs don't allow patients to obtain care from out of network providers, unless they are specialists who are referred by one's PCP. If this is not done in a timely manner, the patient suffers. Cost cutting has other side effects too people have to wait longer to see doctors and wait for appointments. Emergency and catastrophic care may not be taken care of by an HMO plan. However, pregnant women can seek the OB/GYN of their choice, whether they're on the network or not. The same rule applies for emergency care as well.

To enroll in an HMO plan, you have fill in your personal information and ask for a quote. You can do this online.