HMO vs PPO
Two systems.Two outcomes.
The difference isn’t the card in your wallet.It’s the kind of dentistry the system pushes you toward.
This page is the worldview. Cost is the next chapter.
The real difference
It’s not “good insurance” vs “bad insurance.”
It’s two different systems with two different incentives.
One tends to favor fast fixes. The other gives more room for planning.
Two paths
HMO / Medi-Cal
Short-term fixes
Designed to move fast.
Narrower options.
The long-term cost often shows up later.
PPO
Long-term planning
More flexibility.
More variation between offices.
Works best when the office plans calmly.
This isn’t a moral judgment. It’s how systems behave.
The consequence
The hidden cost is paying twice.
Fast fixes can feel cheaper today.
But when dentistry gets rushed, the real bill shows up later — redo work, bigger procedures, and fewer good options.
Next
Want to see how PPO changes cost?
We’ll show the concept first — why PPO usually means paying less — without turning this into an insurance lecture.
If you want the strategy first
The strategy chapter is about avoiding the expensive mistakes that lead to redo work.