Control

• An HMO is designed to keep the costs of the insured to a minimum. For this reason, the primary care physician has a tighter control over the decision-making process and can rule out services that are considered unnecessary.
  
  A PPO, on the other hand, enables the insured to have greater control of her own medical care. This means you are allowed to choose your own physician, specialists, and even some of the treatment that you will receive.
  
  

Function

• The HMO pays most of your expenses. Usually, you pay only a copay, and the HMO takes care of the rest. You probably don't even have to handle any paperwork.
  
  When you belong to a PPO health insurance plan, you probably pay a little less for the plan, but you might pay considerably more for the services. A typical PPO pays 80 percent of covered costs until you meet your deductible; you are responsible for the remaining 20 percent. Pregnancy and delivery can be expensive, especially if you end up having a cesarean section or if there are complications, so 20 percent of the bill can add up.
  
  

Time Frame

• Neither an HMO nor a PPO will provide maternity coverage to you if you are already pregnant when you go on the coverage. Some plans will cover you if you get pregnant right after joining the plan, but others require you to wait up to a year.
  
  

Benefits

• The main benefit to maternity HMO coverage is the low cost, not just for the delivery, but also for prenatal and followup care.
  
  The main benefit to maternity PPO coverage is the greater control over who you go to for medical services. PPO health plans give you a much greater ability to pick and choose, and you might get services more quickly, if you don't have to wait for HMO referrals and approvals.
  
  

Warning

• Before you sign up for a maternity plan, make sure that the doctor you choose to use accepts the plan's coverage. Also check with the hospital where you plan to deliver, and any specialists you might have to see.