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Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)

Clearly one of the main problems with an HMO plan is that patients are stuck within the system.  It is unfortunately very hard, if not impossible, to get treatment outside the virtual walls of the HMO.

An HMO is a rigid system that participants must stay within, but a PPO is more like a loose confederation of providers. A PPO is like a hybrid. Part HMO, part traditional fee-for-service, the PPO attempts to keep costs down by creating and maintaining a loose HMO-type network, but it offers the flexibility and the possibility of choosing other doctors when necessary.

You can see any health care professional in the network any time you choose to make an appointment. You don't need referrals for specialists or other services as you do in an HMO. You can see doctors or specialists outside your PPO network, however, your portion of the costs will be higher. 

You may have to pay some portion of the cost (co-payment) for each doctor or hospital visit, regardless of what the services cost.