CareFirst BCBS EPO vs PPO in Maryland
So I recently became a State of Maryland employee (well, technically, though I am actually an employee at University of Maryland, Baltimore) and I am a bit confused about the difference between the EPO plan vs. the PPO plan. So what I understand is that the big difference is that the EPO plan has no out-of-network (OON) coverage. But what does out-of-network mean?
All of my current doctors are in the BCBS network, which is huge in Maryland/the DMV area. Since the EPO plan is cheaper by $45/month, it would definitely be the better deal if my current level of coverage doesn't really change significantly, as I don't really plan on using a non-BCBS healthcare provider. The PPO plan also usually has a pretty high deductible for OON, and the reimbursement isn't great either after it.
What I am a bit confused about is if the EPO plan can be used in the national BCBS network, or am I limited only to the regional network (like Maryland or the DMV area)? So if I were to travel and need to see a doctor, even if that doctor was part of the BCBS national network, would they be considered in or out-of-network?