Ensure that patients undergoing treatment can continue to see the same health care provider if their provider leaves the plan or their employer changes plans. Continuity is not ensured when employers switch plans, and is only available when the patient is pregnant, institutionalized, or terminally ill. Allow patients to see an outside specialist at no additional cost whenever the specialists in their plan can't meet their needs. NO Require that health plans have an adequate number and variety of health care providers close to where consumers live and work. NO Require that insurance companies pay for emergency services if a reasonable person would consider the situation an emergency.
Plans can charge patients extra if they go to a non-network provider.
Emergency services are covered only if the patient goes to a network provider. Ensure that doctors and nurses can report quality problems without retaliation from HMOs, insurance companies, hospitals and others. NO NO Prevent health care professionals from being financially rewarded for limiting a patient's care. NO Give consumers access to an independent consumer assistance program to help them choose plans and get the services they need. NO Allow doctors to prescribe prescription drugs that are not on the HMO's predetermined list when needed.