How do preferred provider organization (PPO) plans operate?
A preferred provider organization (PPO) plan will push for patients to use the insurance company’s network of healthcare providers, who have come to an arrangement with the insurance company to provide services to patients at pre-negotiated rates. A patient will likely need to make a small co-payment every time he or she visits a doctor within the network. A patient is usually allowed to visit any doctor he or she would like. But if that doctor is out-of-network, the patient might be stuck with a substantial portion of the bill.
