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Compare Your Medical Options

You can choose from two options in the Parkland Employee Health Plan (PEHP), both administered by Cigna in 2024:

  • Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
  • High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with Health Savings Account (HSA)
Compare Medical Options 2

How are the PPO and HDHP alike?

  • Cover the same services, such as doctor’s office visits, hospitalization, emergency room care and prescription drugs.
  • Pay 100% for in-network preventive care, such as routine physicals, well-woman exams, well-baby exams, blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests and cancer screenings.
  • Have three coverage tiers — you can see a doctor in any tier.

How are the PPO and HDHP different?

PPO

  • Copays for some services such as doctor’s office visits; for other services such as hospitalization, you must meet the deductible and then you and the plan share the costs (coinsurance).
  • Lower deductibles than the HDHP, so your paycheck contributions are higher.
  • No Parkland-funded Health Savings Account (HSA).

HDHP

  • You pay the full cost of care (except for in-network preventive care) until you meet the deductible. After you meet the deductible, you and the plan share the cost of care. For coverage in Tiers 1 and 2, the cost of care is contracted and negotiated with Cigna.
  • Parkland-funded HSA to help you pay for care; you can add money of your own, too.
  • Lower paycheck contributions than the PPO but you’ll pay higher deductibles until the HDHP begins paying any benefits (except for in-network preventive care).

Watch and Learn

Wondering which medical plan is right for you? Take a look at these videos.

HDHP: Why or Why Not? (1:14)

See if the HDHP might be a good fit for you.

English Cigna Webinar (56:09)

Check out this recording that walks through the ins and outs of the medical plans.

Webinar de Cigna en español (1:11:56)

Eche un vistazo a esta grabación que explica las característica de los planes médicos.

Which plan is right for me?

Consider the PPO if:

  • You want more predictable costs at the time of care.
  • Coming up with funds to pay for the higher deductible and out-of-pocket costs in the HDHP would be challenging.
  • You’re a more frequent user of health care.
  • You’re planning on having a baby in 2024.

Consider the HDHP if:

  • You want the lowest paycheck contributions ($0 premium for employee-only coverage) AND you have savings you can use to meet the higher deductible and out-of-pocket costs.
  • You are generally healthy and don’t have a chronic condition that requires a lot of care.
  • You want the tax advantages of an HSA.

Maternity Care in the HDHP

If you enroll in the HDHP, you must meet the calendar year deductible prior to your delivery before you can take advantage of the savings you can get by participating in the Healthy Pregnancies/Healthy Babies Program and delivering at Parkland. 

Medical 1

Compare Your Medical Options

Learn more about the PPO and HDHP.

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Programs And Tools

Get the most from your medical benefits.

Medical 2

PPO

Want health care with more predictable costs? Check out the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) .

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HDHP With HSA

The HDHP works a little differently than the PPO. Dig into the details.