What is the difference between a PPO, a POS and an HMO?
A PPO is a Preferred Provider Organization. A POS is a Point of Service Plan and an HMO is a Health Maintenance Organization. All three organize their network of doctors a little differently. The PPO plan allows the most freedom of choice of physician. There is no requirement for a primary care physician. If you want to go to a specialist, you can go directly, without a referral. The out of pocket expenses associated with these plans are ususally higher than with an HMO. An HMO is an organization of doctors from which the patient must choose a primary care physician for all care. If you need a specialist, you will have to get a referral from the primary care doctor first. If you choose to use a doctor out of the HMO network, it is the same as having no insurance. You will pay 100% of the bill right out of pocket. Finally a Point of Service, POS, is hybrid of a PPO and an HMO. The POS is much more like an HMO, however. The major difference is that the POS also has an “out of network” gr
