Group Point-Of-Service Plans Explained

Who determines your company’s healthcare costs? The final decision may be up to you, but today’s costs are mainly determined by your staff. Employees are asking for benefits other than basic health—such as life and dental or vision--and things are starting to look expensive. Don’t worry; there are comprehensive and cost-effective group plans– you’ve just got some homework to do finding one that satisfies both you and your employees.

Effective comparison shopping isn’t easy, but it’s doable. First, look at your options. If it’s versatility your employees want, a Group Plan POS could work for you. Group Plan Point-of-Service care is a managed care hybrid, similar in many ways to Group Plan HMOs and Group Plan PPOs.

Why People Are Choosing Group POS

The Group POS is based on familiar managed care principles; your employees get lower medical costs in return for restricting their choices. A Group POS Plan allows your employees to decide when, where and how they receive benefits and gives them control over their out-of-pocket expenses.

By using a ”two-level benefits system” (out of plan and in plan), Group Plan POS care has become a remarkably popular insurance option among small business owners.

The Advantages of Group Plan POS:

• Your employees won’t be limited to HMO network care providers.
• For in-network care, your employees’ co-payments will be low and the plan’s deductible won’t be applied.
• Your employees’ out-of-pocket costs will be limited.
• Your employees will have more freedom than members of other managed care plans.
• Your employees won’t need a referral from their primary care giver for emergency services.

The Disadvantages of Group Plan POS:

• The co-payments for out-of-network care your employees receive will be high.
• The plan deductible will be applied to your employees’ out-of-network care.
• Your employees might have problems getting a referral to a specialist.
• If they’re traveling outside of the plan’s network-area or have a dependent living outside, benefits will cost them more out-of-pocket.
• Your employees will need to choose one network-based physician as a primary health provider. But they will not be limited to only in-network services; your employees will have the option to visit specialists and alternative care providers from outside your group POS Network.

Group Plan POS coverage are priced somewhere between a Group HMO and a Group PPO, so be sure to ask enough questions. Where POS plans are concerned, options are key. If one Group Plan POS you’re considering can’t satisfy you, keep looking.