HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, gives you access to certain doctors and hospitals within its network. A network is made up of providers that have agreed to lower their rates for plan members and also meet quality standards. But unlike PPO plans, care under an HMO plan is covered only if you see a provider within that HMO’s network. 

How it works: As a member of an HMO, you will choose a primary care provider (PCP), who will take care of most of your healthcare needs and have a broader coverage of preventative healthcare measures than out-of-network services.