Every fall, many Americans select the health insurance plan that will take effect the following calendar year. Picking a health plan can be tricky during this open enrollment process. Let’s look at two of the most common types of plans and how they can impact your healthcare costs—including those for prescription drugs.  

What’s a PPO? 

 A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) is a plan that allows you to see any doctor you want, but it costs less if you choose doctors who are in-network or part of the plan’s preferred network. PPOs typically have higher monthly payments (called premiums).  

What’s a HDHP? 

 A High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) tends to have lower premiums but higher deductibles. This means your monthly payment for insurance may be less, but you’ll have to pay more out-of-pocket to meet your deductible before the insurance starts covering your costs.  

Which plan is the best for you? Well, it depends… 

You’ve got to think about your healthcare needs and budget when choosing between a PPO or a HDHP: 

• A PPO might be good if you have a health condition or expect to see doctors often. You’ll pay less out-of-pocket for each visit, but your monthly payments might be higher. 

• A HDHP might be good if you’re generally healthy and don’t expect many healthcare needs. You’ll pay less each month, but more out-of-pocket when you do need care.  
  Tip: You may be eligible for a Health Savings Account (HSA) to help cover your costs.  

What about prescription drug costs?  

• PPO plans often have lower copays or a fixed costs for prescriptions. This can be helpful if you take medications regularly to treat conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.  

• With HDHPs, you might pay more out-of-pocket for prescriptions until you meet your deductible. But once that deductible is met, your prescription costs might be lower.  

How can RxSS help? 

Prescription drugs can be expensive no matter what type of insurance plan you have. And while your doctors will always know what’s best for you, they often don’t know how much prescriptions will end up costing (or if they’re covered by your insurance). Rx Savings Solutions (RxSS) is a service that connects to our members’ insurance plans to help find lower-cost options for prescriptions. RxSS members can access their account anytime to check for savings and find more affordable options to discuss with their doctor. 

If you’re an existing RxSS member, make sure to activate your account to see if you could be paying less for prescriptions.