What is a PPO?

A PPO allows you to choose from a larger pool of doctors than other plans, requires a copay and typically has a higher monthly cost than other plans.
A PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization, is a type of medical plan that generally costs more each month out of your paycheck than other plans, but gives you freedom to choose from a large pool of “in-network doctors”. With a PPO, you don’t have to designate a primary care doctor, so you can go directly to a specialist without having a referral. However, to get the most coverage from the plan, you do have to choose one of the doctors listed as “in network”. Each time you visit a doctor or specialist, you will make a preset payment called a “copay”.