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IPA, HMO, POS and PCP... What do all thESE letters mean? |
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IPA - An IPA, or Independent Physicians Association, manages your health care needs by working closely with contracted physicians within its established network. At Pacific IPA, we have all specialties within our network of over 800 physicians, and we have provider agreements in effect with a variety of health plans. We are pleased to arrange personalized service for each of our members.
HMO - An HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, is a type of Managed Care Organization (MCO) that provides a form of health insurance coverage in the United States that is fulfilled through hospitals, doctors, and other providers with which the HMO has a contract. In addition to using their contracts with providers for services at a lower price, HMOs hope to gain an advantage over traditional insurance plans by managing their patients' health care and reducing unnecessary services.
PCP - PCPs, or Primary Care Physicians, provide routine medical care and manage your health by working with you to make medical decisions about your care as a patient. A PCP acts as a "gatekeeper" to medical services and will refer you to specialists or other doctors if deemed necessary. PCPs are usually internists, pediatricians, family doctors, or general practitioners. Pacific IPA has over __ PCPs to choose from throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
POS - POS, or Point of Service, is a health insurance product that combines an HMO as the primary network along with an opt out option of a PPO network within the same plan. The primary care doctors in an HMO plan usually make referrals to other providers within the IPA network. But in a POS plan, members can refer themselves to any plan provider to receive coverage. The following HMOs offer a POS option: Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Cigna, and PacifiCare. For specific questions or concerns regarding the availability and coverage of POS plans, please contact Pacific IPA.
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