HMOs –Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans tend to require you to pick a primary care physician who will be your first point of health care for most visits. This type of plan can work well for individuals or families that want to maintain an ongoing relationship with a doctor they know and trust. Under an HMO plan, you generally must get a referral from your primary care physician before seeing a specialist. Under an HMO plan, the list of in-network specialists may be narrower than with other types of health plans.

PPOs –You have more freedom with PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans to see doctors and specialists without referrals. For example, if you are having problems with your tonsils, you could make an appointment with an ENT specialist without having to see a general practitioner first. You’ll want to find doctors within your plan’s network for the best insurance coverage. PPO plans may in some cases help pay for out-of-network doctors, but often at a higher cost to you.

POSs-Point of Service (POS) plans combine elements of HMO and PPO plans. You may need to select a primary care physician, and they will then provide referrals to specialists when necessary.

EPO Plans –Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) health plans are similar to PPO plans, but will typically not cover any out-of-network costs. Their list of in-network doctors and hospitals is very specific.