Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are required to provide for all of the following services, except:

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) are designed primarily to provide a comprehensive range of health care services to their members, often emphasizing preventive care. They are required to cover a variety of essential health services, which include emergency services, preventive services, and physician services.

While HMOs typically do offer prescription drug coverage as part of their health plans, this coverage is not universally guaranteed across all HMOs. Unlike the other service categories, which are mandated, prescription drug coverage can be subject to the specific plan provisions and may not be included in every HMO policy. Therefore, HMO members could find themselves in a situation where their specific plan does not cover prescription medications, making them responsible for those costs out-of-pocket.

This distinction illustrates why prescription drugs are not guaranteed as a required service across all HMOs, despite their common practice within many plans. Understanding these nuances can be essential for navigating health insurance options and ensuring that members are aware of what their specific HMO plan covers.