Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) are “insurance arrangements that allow participants relative freedom to select the best hospitals and physicians they want to visit” (McKernan, Reynolds, Singhal, Kuthy, & Damiano, 2013, p. 3). Basically, the enrollees or participants obtain health services from physicians within the listed preferred providers (Citters et al., 2012). The premiums for these arrangements tend to be higher than those of other plans such as the HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations). The benefits and flexibilities associated with these PPOs explain why many dentists, patients, and employers have continued to embrace them. The discussion therefore explains why PPOs have become attractive to employees, employers, and dentists.
Attractiveness of PPOs
Employers
The appeal of PPOs to employers explains why they have become common in the recent past. To begin with, the plan offers access to more employers. This means that the employers can make accurate financial forecasts and adjustments. Employers who want their workers to receive quality dental support will consider the advantages of the PPO plan (McKernan et al., 2013). HMOs have been observed to result in complaints and administrative burdens. These gaps associated with the other health insurance plans explain why more employers in the United States are currently finding PPOs more attractive. This scenario indicates that more companies and employers will prefer these PPO plans and advise their workers to embrace them in the future.
Employees
The attractiveness of PPOs explains why they are admired by many employees. The first attribute that makes them attractive is that of flexibility. This means that beneficiaries or employees can select the most suitable plan under the PPO. Patients are free to choose their preferable providers, hospitals, or dental care professionals (Citters et al., 2012). Some employees can decide to pay higher premiums in an attempt to get exemplary services from specific providers.
The PPOs present various options that can be selected by different employees. Employees “willing to pay reduced premiums will select plans that offer higher deductibles” (Citters et al., 2012, p. 3). The other attractiveness of these plans is that they are comprehensive in nature. This means that a wide range of dental health services are covered under the plans. The PPOs include some critical dental services such as tooth filling. Such services are not catered for by the existing managed care plans.
Dentists
PPOs have been observed to bring together many professionals such as dentists and physicians. This kind of network is appropriate because it promotes career development. Collaboration is also necessary among the dentists within the PPO network. The network makes it easier for more dentists to provide evidence-based dental services to the targeted patients. The PPO plan has minimal restrictions. Patients using such PPO plans can choose to get oral care from dentists who are not part of the network. This means that many dentists in the country can find it easier to deliver oral care to different patients (Citters et al., 2012).
The PPO plan is attractive to more dentists because they offer oral care to more patients without getting a referral (McKernan et al., 2013). The insurance has also been observed to cater for the needs of many dental health institutions and hospitals in the country. Additionally, dentists who practice independently will find it easier to realize their goals under the PPO insurance plan.
References
Citters, A., Larson, B., Carluzzo, K., Gbemudu, J., Kreindler, S., Wu, F.,…Fisher, E. (2012). Four health care organizations’ efforts to improve patient care and reduce costs. The Commonwealth Fund, 1(1), 1-14.
McKernan, S., Reynolds, J., Singhal, A., Kuthy, R., & Damiano, P. (2013). Access to dental care and the oral health safety net. Web.