There are three different types of Oregon health insurance policies available to state residents. These include Traditional Oregon health insurance plans, PPOs or Preferred Provider Organizations, and HMOs or Health Maintenance Organizations. When selecting Oregon health insurance it is important to determine which type of insurance plan will best meet yours and your family’s needs.
Traditional Oregon health insurance plans differ from PPOs and HMOs in the sense that they don’t have networks. With traditional insurance coverage, the plan covers doctors and hospital visits by having the policy subscriber pay a deductible.
Some Oregon health insurance providers offer more than one type of insurance plan. For instance, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon offers both Traditional coverage as well as PPO. The Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon is part of the Regence Group. They are one of the leading insurance company providers in the Pacific Northwest.
Another Oregon health insurance company that offers both traditional and PPO coverage is the Lifewise Health Plan of Oregon. PPOs or Preferred Provider Organizations differ from traditional coverage in the fact that they have many doctors that provide services within the network. PacificSource is one of the leading Oregon health insurance companies that offer PPO coverage.
Unlike PPOs, HMO’s do not have a network of providers. With an HMO you have one primary physician and will need a referral to see a specialist. One Oregon health insurance provider that offers both PPO and HMO coverage is HealthNet.
Here is a bit of history regarding these various Oregon health insurance providers.
Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon
With headquarters in Portland Oregon, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon
serves more than one million members.
Health Net of Oregon
Health Net of Oregon offers many different insurance coverage plans. They
have an extensive network that includes over 120,000 physicians and over
125 hospitals.
LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon
Founded in 1986, LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon has grown to serve more
than 160,000 Oregon residents.
PacifiCare of Oregon
Listed as one of Fortune’s largest companies, PacifCare of Oregon
has received many awards and has been given an “A” rating by
A.M. Best.
Kaiser Permanente
A non-profit organization, Kaiser Permanente is the nation’s largest
non-profit HMO serving over 8 million members.
PacificSource Health Plans
Founded in 1933, PacificSource Health Plans serves over 140,000 members.