An Open Access health insurance plan means that you - as the consumer - can seek out health care services from any source and the insurance will pay as usual. It’s important to note that even an open access plan may have some limitations.

Typically, this insurance program will pay only for approved treatments. That means that an experimental drug, holistic medicine, chiropractic services and other “medical” costs won’t be paid. However, the fact that an insurance policy has an open access policy does mean that you can choose any doctor and any health care facility for treatment. For some people, that’s vital.

If you drive a truck, make out-of-town sales calls or even regularly visit friends and relatives who don’t live near you, you run the risk of needing medical treatment while you’re many miles from your primary care physician. If that happens, an open access policy ensures that you would have adequate insurance coverage. It’s important to note that many closed access policies provide for emergency health care if you become ill or have an accident away from home, even if you use an out-of-network physician. But that may not be enough if you’re often on the road. There are times when a visit to the doctor isn’t really an emergency but is necessary. And if you have the appropriate health insurance, you’re more likely to find a physician willing to see you in that situation.