What is a Medicare HMO?

An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) is a health plan that is also involved in how your health care is delivered. Managed care refers to health plans coordinating your health care with you and the providers that participate in the health plan. HMOs are the most common type of managed care.

A Medicare HMO is an HMO that has contracted with the federal government under the Medicare Advantage program (formerly called Medicare+ Choice) to provide health benefits to persons eligible for Medicare that choose to enroll in the HMO, instead of receiving their benefits and care through the traditional fee for service Medicare program.