| If you have been actively researching online for the | | | | prescriptions. Perhaps the only drawback would be |
| perfect health insurance plan then chances are good | | | | that a majority of the time you must use the generic |
| that you have come across the term Point of | | | | brands of any prescriptions that you receive.Aside |
| Service or POS as it's commonly abbreviated. This | | | | from having your primary health care provider refer |
| health plan is similar in many ways to a Health | | | | you to specialists within the plan you also have the |
| Maintenance Organization (HMO) health care plan and | | | | option to refer yourself to a specialist or doctor |
| a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) health care | | | | outside of the Point of Sale health care plan but keep |
| plan. In fact it almost offers the best options and | | | | in mind this will warrant additional costs (sometimes |
| benefits of both types of plans. For instance the PPO | | | | as much as 50% higher), which will need to be |
| is not as restrictive as a traditional HMO and yet the | | | | covered out of your own pocket. The one exception |
| over costs are cheaper when compared to a PPO, | | | | to this would be if you were in an emergency |
| including the deductible portion of your health | | | | medical situation that required immediate medical |
| insurance bill.Normally with a Point of Service health | | | | assistance. If you're truly looking for a health care |
| care plan the consumer will be asked to select a | | | | plan that allows you to see your own doctor or |
| primary health care provider from a lists of preferred | | | | health care provider then an indemnity plan is what |
| providers within the POS program. They will then | | | | you're actually looking for instead of a POS |
| receive all medical care from the doctor or medical | | | | plan.Another minor drawback to the POS plan that |
| specialist selected. Referrals to other specialty | | | | can be a minor or major nuisance (depending on your |
| doctors and hospitals that are also part of the POS | | | | tolerance level and viewpoint) to some consumers is |
| plan will originate and be directed by the primary | | | | the fact that if you are referred to another specialist |
| health care provider. Although many consumers get | | | | that's in the approved health care network you will |
| slightly anxious or concerned with choosing from a list | | | | still have to pay an additional amount. This can be an |
| of doctors provided to them, especially if they have | | | | entire up front cost or a partial payment with both |
| a hometown favorite doctor that they are more | | | | types requiring some form of reimbursement form |
| comfortable receiving medical assistance form, but | | | | your health insurance company or provider.Many folks |
| the lower overall costs usually ease those anxieties. | | | | like the flexibility and cost that a Point of Service |
| For instance the deductible is usually quite small and | | | | health care plan offers. Whether you do or not is |
| there is a minimal charge in the form of a | | | | entirely up to you and should be based on your |
| co-payment for doctor visits and medical | | | | current medical needs. |