HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)

An HMO plan keeps your care coordinated through your primary care physician (PCP), who becomes your partner in managing your health and referring you to specialists when needed. You'll stay within a network of providers.

Best for: People who want lower premiums and prefer coordinated care.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)

A PPO gives you flexibility to see any doctor or specialist without a referral, though you'll save money by staying in-network. You have the freedom to go out-of-network if you need to, you'll just pay a bit more. This plan is ideal if you value choice and want to manage your own care without going through a primary care physician first.

Best for: People who want flexibility in choosing providers and don't want to need referrals for specialists.

EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization)

An EPO blends elements of HMO and PPO plans. You won't need referrals to see specialists, but you'll need to stay within your network for coverage (except in emergencies). Think of it as the middle ground - more freedom than an HMO, but typically lower premiums than a PPO.

Best for: People who want specialist access without referrals but are comfortable staying in-network to save on costs.

POS (Point of Service)

A POS plan lets you decide at each "point of service" whether to stay in-network or go outside it. You'll choose a primary care physician who can refer you to specialists, and you can see out-of-network providers if you're willing to pay higher out-of-pocket costs.

Best for: People who want a primary care doctor to coordinate care but also want the option to go out-of-network when necessary.

HDHP (High-Deductible Health Plan)

An HDHP comes with a higher deductible but lower monthly premiums. You'll pay more out-of-pocket before your insurance kicks in, but will save on monthly costs. Many people pair this with an HSA to make it even more powerful.

Best for: Healthy individuals or families who don't anticipate frequent medical care and want to minimize monthly premiums.