What are PPOs, HMOs and POS?

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). Each time you need care, you choose among doctors who belong to the PPO network or any non-network doctor. If you go to a doctor within the PPO network, you will pay a co-payment. Your coinsurance will be based on lower charges for PPO members. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). HMOs require that you pay a small, set co-payment when you use the plan's HMO doctors. You generally don't have to pay a deductible in an HMO. You select a primary care physician who manages all of your health care and serves as a gatekeeper for specialty care. There is no out-of-network opportunity. Point-of-Service (POS) Plan. Many HMOs offer an indemnity-type option known as a POS plan. POS plans or Open Access HMOs add an out-of-network benefit to HMOs. Like HMOs, you select a primary care physician who manages all of your care and is responsible for referring you to plan specialists. In a POS plan however, you have the option of going outside the HMO network.  more