HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization, while PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization. Both are types of health insurance, but they work quite differently.

With an HMO plan, you must receive care from providers within the HMO's network. You need to select a primary care physician who coordinates your care. If you need to see a specialist, you'll need a referral from your primary doctor first.

HMOs typically have lower monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs. However, they offer less flexibility in choosing healthcare providers. If you see doctors outside the network, your HMO generally won't cover those costs except in emergencies.

PPOs have two levels of coverage. You'll pay less when you see in-network doctors, but you can still see out-of-network doctors at a higher cost. The trade-off is that PPOs generally have higher monthly premiums, deductibles, and co-payments than HMOs.

If keeping costs low is your priority, an HMO might be better.
If having the freedom to choose any doctor without referrals is important, consider a "PPO."
If you have existing doctors you want to keep seeing, ask your licensed Medicare broker to check if they're in the HMO network you're considering.
If you have complex health issues requiring multiple specialists, a PPO might be more suitable.
Always consider having a licensed local insurance broker help you research what's best for you.
Remember that specific details vary by insurance company.

For more answers to your Medicare questions, contact California Licensed Insurance broker David Wolfe, a Medicare specialist. David can be reached at 858 - 722 - 8505. Thank you for listening.