8. What do PPO, HMO, POS, and SNP mean?

PPO – Preferred Provider Organization Plan: In a PPO plan, you pay less if you choose physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers from the plan network. You will have to pay more if you choose out-of-network physicians, hospitals, and providers. HMO – Health Maintenance Organization Plan: In most HMO plans, you may only be seen by network physicians, hospitals, and health care providers, except in cases of emergency. You may also need your primary care physician’s referral. POS – Point of Service: This is a type of HMO where you can obtain certain out-of-network services at a higher cost. SNP – Special Needs Plan: Medicare SNPs limit their membership to people with specific diseases or conditions. Medicare SNPs adjust their benefits, provider options, and drug lists to best fulfill the specific needs of the groups they serve.