[Anonymous January 15, 1997 at 1:34 am Post count: 93172]

#1165797

An HMO is an Health Maintainence Organization. When you join an
HMO, you get a primary care physician, ” the gate keeper”. All of your
health care is covered 100% (usually with a $5. or $10. copay) as long
as you don’t “sneeze” without permission from your primary care
physician. There are never any deductables and drugs are usually
$5. or $10. It has been a good plan for me. My doctors are
wonderful. In order to see any Doctor besides your primary care
physician, you have to get a “referral”. If you do not get a “referral”
then you have to pay for the visit. Lots of people do not like HMO’s
but so far it has been good for me. HMO’s usually have lower
premiums than regular health plans. My HMO (family plan) costs only
$26.00 per month. I was paying $200.00 per month for the regular plan.
Hope I shed some light on the subject for you. Good luck.

[Anonymous January 15, 1997 at 5:43 am Post count: 93172]

#1057342

To whomever knows…

I’m just curious. What is an HMO? I keep seeing it mentioned and I’m constantly wondering about it.

Thanx, Caroline

[Anonymous January 18, 1997 at 12:06 pm Post count: 93172]

#1165798

I really am concerned about using HMO’s which require an approval from
your primary care [hysician for treatment by an opthalmologist or
endocrinologist. Some HMO’s are not approving such care if your primary
doctor can treat the disease. It is my opinion, and I havemany, that all
patients with autoimmune diseases should have easy and unlimited access
to specialist care. Thyroid disease, in general, is not respected by
the medical community as a serious disease and they symptoms, which are
numerous and variable are not known in a comprehensive degree by most
physicians. In short, you need the we all need the most educated and
highly trained physicians and those are endocrinologists. Any thing
les could be dangerous. Any other thoughts from anyone elese on this topic??

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