Generally, Medicare will not pay for care outside the United States. You can purchase special insurance for the time you will be outside of the United States. Some HMOs offer physician incentives to hold down the cost of treatment. Consumer advocates express concern that because of these incentives you may not get the care you believe you need. Learn how the HMO keeps costs down.
Health plans that seek accreditation do so on a voluntary basis.
The NCQA accredits HMOs by evaluating how well an HMO manages all parts of its delivery system. HMOs can receive one of four levels of accreditation. You can ask the HMO what percentage of older patients get flu shots and what percentage get mammograms. This may indicate the HMO's commitment to preventive care.