(MS) - Choosing a healthcare plan can be one of the more important decisions a person makes. While no one likes to think of the potential for serious injury or illness, the truth is that this potential is very real. Most people would agree that should an injury or illness occur to them or a loved one covered by their plan, they'd want the best medical care possible.

But what makes one plan different from another? Some differences can be minute, but others can be major. Consider the following differences between Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), both of which are managed healthcare systems.

Primary care physician: HMO members must choose a primary care physician from among their HMO's membership. The primary care physician practices general medical care and must be consulted before a patient can see a specialist. This is where most people find HMOs less amenable, as the mandatory consultation with the primary care physician requires an extra doctor visit, meaning you'll pay for that visit even if it is just a minimal co-pay. Also, the primary-care physician can only refer patients to specialists within the HMO's membership, limiting who you can and can't see.

A PPO, however, does not require its members to choose a primary care physician, and those members can simply refer themselves to a specialist should the need arise.

Repercussions of staying in or going out of networks: Unless it's an emergency while traveling, an HMO will typically provide no coverage for patients who go outside of the network. That means the patient is responsible for the entire bill, a nearly impossible task to handle for many people.

But just because an HMO won't cover out-of-network costs, that doesn't automatically make a PPO a better choice. Typically, PPOs offer significant incentives for patients staying inside the network. For instance, a PPO might cover out-of-network expenses, but might only cover up to a certain percentage. Many times the PPO will cover a substantially higher percentage of the costs for in-network medical expenses. So while the PPO might cover 75 percent of out of network expenses, it might cover 90 percent of in-network expenses

Deductibles: Where HMOs appear more beneficial to members is the lack of deductibles. HMOs typically don't set a deductible, instead going with a minimal co-pay. PPOs, on the other hand, often require a deductible be met before they'll pay anything. This is especially the case with hospital visits. In addition, PPOs typically have higher co-payments, something many patients would prefer to avoid.

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So which one is better? That all depends on the individual. For example, someone with a serious medical condition who requires regular specialized care would most often prefer a PPO, as there's no restrictions on which doctor you can visit. For those worried about regular out-of-pocket expenses, an HMO seems like the ideal choice, as the co-payment is almost always lower than that of a PPO. HM071811