PPOs are the most common type of health plan available. KFF1 found that 46% of the roughly 153 million Americans with employer-sponsored health coverage had a PPO policy.
HMO plans might involve more bureaucracy and can limit doctors' ability to practice medicine as they see fit due to stricter guidelines on treatment protocols. So just as with patients, providers who prefer a greater degree of flexibility tend to prefer PPO plans.
Preferred provider organization plans offer more flexibility
You'll likely have several types of plans to choose from. One type of plan that often comes up is the Preferred Provider Organization or PPO plan. This plan is known for its flexibility, but it can also come with a higher monthly premium.
In general, PPO plans tend to be more expensive than an HMO plan. Your monthly premium will be higher and you will have to meet your deductible before your health insurer starts paying. You will also have to pay more out-of-pocket if you visit a provider who is not part of your PPO network.
But, PPO plans frequently enable more freedom in selecting specialists and could have wider provider networks. However, PPO plans could also have more excellent patient out-of-pocket expenses, making them less appealing to some doctors.
A PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization, is a type of health insurance plan that gives you more freedom when choosing doctors and specialists. Unlike an HMO, a PPO allows you to see any doctor without needing a referral. This flexibility is ideal for people who want more control over their healthcare.
With PPO insurance, you'll pay less out of pocket when you get care within that network. You can still see an out-of-network provider, but you'll get the most coverage when you stay within the PPO network. PPO health plans may be a good fit for someone who lives in 2 different states or travels often within the U.S.
The MultiPlan PHCS network is the nation's largest and most comprehensive independent PPO network. This network offers access in all states and includes more than 700,000 healthcare professionals, 4,500 hospitals and 70,000 ancillary care facilities. How do I find PHCS providers?
Choose a PPO plan if:
You have health problems, visit the doctor frequently, or take many medications. You are expecting a major medical expense such as surgery or the birth of a child. You're willing to pay higher premiums in exchange for the certainty of lower out-of-pocket costs related to specific medical needs.
A PPO plan provides more flexibility in choosing your health care providers, but it may cost more than an HMO. Key areas to remember: Your maximum copay or coinsurance is less when you stay in network for services.
Because PPOs offer access to a larger provider network, your monthly costs may be higher.
Solomon notes that many physicians came to managed care late, because they had no other choice. "These people resent having to see HMO patients, because they remember what it was like to just bill insurance, and not have to get approvals for referrals. So they take it out on the patient.
With a PPO, you do not need to maintain a primary care physician and can see a different doctor of your choice at any time, including specialists. This also means when you are traveling, you can receive care wherever you are. Additionally, PPO plans offer more options for laboratory service providers.
How much does a PPO plan cost? Because PPO plans provide the most flexibility for the person insured, most individuals will find that PPOs have the most expensive monthly premiums. The average monthly cost of a PPO health insurance plan for a 40-year-old is $576, which is 20% more expensive than an HMO policy.
2022 Employer Health Benefits Survey
Forty-nine percent of covered workers are enrolled in PPOs, followed by HDHP/SOs (29%), HMOs (12%), POS plans (9%), and conventional plans (1%) [Figure 5.1]. All of these percentages are similar to the enrollment percentages in 2021.
HMO plans typically have lower monthly premiums. You can also expect to pay less out of pocket. PPOs tend to have higher monthly premiums in exchange for the flexibility to use providers both in and out of network without a referral. Out-of-pocket medical costs can also run higher with a PPO plan.
Investopedia's analysis ranks Kaiser Permanente as the best health insurance company for 2025 because of its blend of affordability and low customer complaints. UnitedHealthcare and Aetna also earned top marks.
PPO plans provide more flexibility when picking a doctor or hospital. They also feature a network of providers, but there are fewer restrictions on seeing non-network providers. In addition, your PPO insurance will pay if you see a non-network provider, although it may be at a lower rate.
Before choosing a health insurance policy for yourself, your family, or your employees, you must know what types are available. Some popular health insurance policy options are: Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans. Health maintenance organization (HMO) plans.
Cons Explained
No specialist visits without a referral: You'll need referrals for any specialists if you want your HMO to pay for those visits. If you need to visit a rheumatologist or a dermatologist, for example, your PCP must make a referral before you can see one for the plan to pay for your visit.
PPO is an abbreviation for Preferred Provider Organization. It is a type of medical insurance plan that allows its participants to seek medical care from any doctor in or out of the network. However, you need to pay slightly high charges to doctors that are out of network.
HMOs (health maintenance organizations) are typically cheaper than PPOs, but they tend to have smaller networks. You need to see your primary care physician before getting a referral to a specialist. PPOs (preferred provider organizations) are usually more expensive.