A PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization, contracts with various doctors and hospitals in the community. Unlike an HMO, you may choose to see a doctor who is not included in the plan, in which case you have to meet your deductible and pay coinsurance based on higher charges. A POS plan is like an HMO in that enrollees are assigned to a primary care doctor within the POS network. But like a PPO, POS enrollees can go out of the network for medical care by paying a larger share of the cost. With any health plan, there is a basic premium, which is how much you or your employer pay, usually monthly, to buy health-insurance coverage.
Group plans, like the ones offered through employers, are usually the most affordable.
In addition to the premium, there are other payments that you or your employer will have to make, and these vary by plan. Most plans provide basic preventative health-care coverage, but the details are what counts. The best plan for someone else may not be the best plan for you. Physical exams and health screenings Care by specialists - such as an orthopedist or a cardiologist. After you review what benefits are available, you can compare plans.