HMO: An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) is an organization that provides or arranges for coverage of certain health care services required by members of the organization. Typical HMO coverages include access to a primary care physician, emergency care, and specialists/hospitalization when needed. Many HMOs operate with preventative medicine in mind by addressing your health care needs while you are healthy so as to prevent disease or illness. Addtiionally, HMOs often use a PRO (Peer Review Organization) to assure that members receive appropriate services that meet professional standards of care. Complaints regarding levels of service are often referred to the PRO for resolution.

IPO: IPO (Independent Provider Organization) operates by having contracts directly with independent physicians to provide services to HMO members.

PPO: PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) is a form of managed care under which health care providers contract to provide medical services at pre-negotiated rates. Members who subscribe to a PPO are required to use the health care providers who participate in the PPO network - utilization of a health care provider outside the PPO network may result in the member paying more out-of-pocket for services which could have been provided within the network.

POS: POS (Point of Service) plans allow the individual policy holder to visit out-of-network, non-participating doctors for a fee. If the services of a non-participating health care provider are utilized, the individual often obtains restrictions of benefits or incurs more out-of-pocket costs.