Going with Your Own Doctor or an HMO Doctor

A dilemma people often face due to health insurance restrictions is in the choice of doctor. Most HMOs and EPOs do not pay for the cost of service or at least just pay a partial amount if the doctor consulted does not belong to the list of accredited doctors. What this means is that it limits the patient’s choice. However, this does not mean that the patient has no choice at all.

One of the best strategies for ensuring that you get the best health care possible while still managing to lower the costs through your health insurance policy is simply by researching the list of the HMO accredited doctors. Who knows your current primary doctor may even be accredited!

Another way is to go to the HMO accredited doctor/clinic for routine lab tests and checkups and to go to your own doctor for cases you think need special attention.

You can also visit your own doctor for a checkup and find out his initial diagnosis, then go to the HMO doctor for a second opinion (getting a second opinion is good practice!) then having all the other tests done care of the HMO. This way you only need to pay a consultation fee and still be at peace that you’re getting quality yet affordable care.