Otherwise, reimbursement will be made the last working day of the following month. The term HMO refers to health maintenance organizations. HMOs only cover health care services which are authorized in advance by an individual's primary care physician. The four HMO plans are United Healthcare, Rush Prudential, Humana Premier and HMO Illinois. The term PPO refers to a perferred provider option plan.
Benefits are higher when received from network providers.
The PPO plan offered to Northwestern University faculty and staff is referred to as Plan A and is administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois for hospital and physician services and by PCS Health Services prescription drug services. The amount of the tuition reduction is based upon the number of years of continuous full-time service. The University pays the full cost of this insurance. Failure to submit claims within this period of time will result in the claim being denied. That maintenance medications for chronic illnesses such as diabetes or high blood pressure may be obtained at a significantly lower cost by mail order.