PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)

Many patients want more say about which doctors they see and what tests or treatments they get. A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) is one type of managed care plan that gives members more choices but may cost more than a traditional HMO.

With a PPO, members usually have a bigger network of doctors and hospitals they can use. They do not need to have a main doctor, or a Primary Care Physician. They can also use doctors and hospitals who are not in the network. However, if members go to doctors and hospitals outside of the network, typically they may pay more for the services.

Almost one-third of all Californians, who get health insurance through their job, belong to a PPO. Beginning in the fall 2009, the Department of Insurance, which oversees PPOs in California, will issue an annual report card that rates California's largest PPO plans on the quality of their members' medical care and services.

View:

• PPO quality rankings are available through NCQA Quality Compass
  You will need to select your state “California”, check that you accept the “Terms and Conditions of Use”, and check “Commercial (private)” for Plan Type.