Health Insurance

An HMO uses a network of providers and facilities to deliver your care, which usually means less paperwork than a PPO. You'll have a primary care doctor who coordinates your care and refers you to specialists when needed — most HMOs require that referral before you see a specialist. Seeing a doctor outside the network typically means paying the full bill yourself. HMOs are paid monthly and may include a deductible (excluding preventive care), a flat copay, and coinsurance.

An EPO gives you some freedom in choosing a provider without needing a referral to see a specialist, but there's no coverage for care outside the network except in an emergency — you'd cover the full cost yourself. EPOs tend to have a lower monthly cost. Whether there's a deductible depends on the specific plan, and copays or coinsurance may also apply.

A POS plan combines freedom of provider choice with coordinated care — a primary care doctor manages your care and handles specialist referrals. Visiting a provider outside the network involves more paperwork and typically a higher deductible. The plan requires a monthly premium, and a copay or coinsurance may apply, with higher costs for out-of-network care.

Available to those under 30 (or with a qualifying hardship exemption), catastrophic plans carry lower monthly payments along with a high deductible, and they cover three primary care visits before the deductible kicks in. Free preventive care is included even before you've met your deductible. Once the deductible is met, the plan covers 100% of costs for care within its network. It's designed as a safety net against worst-case medical events rather than everyday care.