HMO is an acronym for Health Maintenance Organization. It is a prepaid health care system that provides or arranges managed care for self-funded health care benefit plans, with the health care providers (hospitals, clinics, doctors, etc.). It provides a no cash-out feature for inpatient, outpatient and emergency cases within the limits of the HMO plan chosen. You will be given an HMO card that you can bring along and use in case of inpatient, outpatient and emergency cases to be availed through accredited providers only.
Inpatient means that the procedure requires the patient to be admitted to the hospital, primarily so that he or she can be closely monitored during the procedure and afterwards, during recovery. Emergency benefit includes treatment of emergency cases not leading to confinement. Outpatient means that the procedure does not require hospital admission and may also be performed outside the premises of a hospital.