An HMO plan is a good choice for health insurance because it provides policyholders with a wide range of medical coverage. Health Maintenance Organizations normally have a list of doctors from which you can choose your primary care provider. Medical services received from your primary care and hospitals included in the network either require you to pay a minimal co-payment amount or are free of charge. Before you get your HMO plan from any of the major carriers in your area, you should first check with your state's department of insurance. You can find out from the insurance department whether the insurance companies you're considering are licensed to do business in your state or not. You should also try to contact the Better Business Bureau to find out if any complaints have been filed against any of the insurance companies you're considering to get a health insurance plan from. You might be able to gauge how reliable the company is. If you have the means, you should approach an independent research company. Since you'll be relying on your HMO plan when it comes to your healthcare, a third party company that researches various products, businesses, and companies might be able to advise you. Independent research companies usually don't have a personal connection with the entities they research. You can find out how financially strong the insurance company where you might purchase your health insurance policy is. - June 26, 2009 @ 1:54 pm