POS Plans (Point of Service)

In Health Insurance, a POS is a marriage between an HMO and PPO.  It is called "Point of Service" because your level of benefits depends upon the Provider that you choose.  

An "Open Access POS" plan is the most common one today.  It looks very similar to a PPO, in that you do NOT have to select a Primary Care Physician.  You get better benefits if you use Providers in the Network, but you may also go out-of-network.

A "standard POS" functions similarly to an HMO, but with an "out-of-network" benefit attached.  It requires you to select a Primary Care Physician, who refers you to any Specialists.  Otherwise, your benefits would be reduced as if it were "out-of-network".  

Group Employee Benefit programs often include a POS plan, but it is not as popular as a PPO.  Individual / Family plans rarely allow POS options.

Last updated 2/2/2007