Preferred provider organization (PPO)
When you enroll in the preferred provider organization (PPO), you have the freedom to seek care from any eligible licensed provider; however, you can save on your out-of-pocket costs for care by using the plan’s national network of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers.
To better understand the coverage provided under the PPO, it’s important to know these key terms.
Deductible
The deductible is a specified annual dollar amount you must pay for covered medical services before the plan begins to pay benefits.
- PPO deductibles are based on a percentage of your effective salary, as shown on the PPO Deductibles and Medical Out-of-Pocket Maximums chart.
- If you enroll any family members, you are responsible for two medical deductibles, one for yourself and one for all your family members combined.
- You can reduce your deductible(s) by completing Call to Health, a well-being program that focuses on the four dimensions of wholeness: spiritual, health, financial, and vocational.
Copay
For mental health care, you pay $0 for up to six visits per year with a Spring Health network provider. If treatment continues beyond these six visits, regular plan copays apply. Spring Health is the service provider for the Employee Assistance Plan (EAP). Learn more about EAP benefits.
A copay is a flat dollar amount that you pay upfront for certain services when using network providers.
- Except for preventive care, you pay a copay for each network office visit (in-person or virtual): $25 for primary and behavioral health care visits, $45 for visits to a specialist or when seeking care at an urgent care center, and $10 when using the telemedicine benefit.
- Copays do not count toward the plan deductible or medical out-of-pocket maximum.
- There is a $25 copay for the vision exam benefit.
- There are separate copay amounts for prescription drugs. Read more details.
Coinsurance
Coinsurance is the percentage of the cost for covered services that you pay after you pay the deductible:
- Your coinsurance for network services is 20%.
- Your coinsurance is 40% for out-of-network care (50% with no deductible for doctor’s office visits).
Medical out-of-pocket maximum
The PPO includes a medical out-of-pocket maximum, which is the most you will pay in the form of coinsurance in a given year. Once you reach the medical out-of-pocket maximum, the plan pays 100% of allowable costs for the rest of the year. Office visit copays and deductibles do not count toward the medical out-of-pocket maximum.
- Like your deductible(s), your medical out-of-pocket maximum is based on a percentage of your effective salary, as shown on the PPO Deductibles and Medical Out-of-Pocket Maximums chart.
- Unlike deductibles, only one out-of-pocket maximum applies per family.
- A separate out-of-pocket maximum applies for prescription drugs (see Medical Plan Highlights 2024/2025).
Total maximum out-of-pocket
The total maximum out-of-pocket is the most you will pay in a year in the form of deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. If your covered out-of-pocket expenses reach the total maximum out-of-pocket amount, the plan will pay 100% of allowable costs for the rest of the year.
- Expenses that count toward the PPO total maximum out-of-pocket include your network deductible(s), medical out-of-pocket maximum, prescription drug out-of-pocket maximum, office visit copays, coinsurance, and prescription drug copays (excluding non-formulary drugs and certain nonessential specialty pharmacy drugs).
- The PPO individual and family total maximum out-of-pocket amounts are shown on Medical Plan Highlights 2024/2025.