Health Insurance for Individuals, Families, Seniors, Self Employed and Small Businesses

In a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization), insurance companies contract with doctors, hospitals, and other providers to form a "network." Depending upon your plan, you can sometimes get health care outside the network (someone or someplace not included in the network) but you will have to pay more. Unlike an HMO, you also have to pay a deductible and coinsurance. Also unlike an HMO, you usually can see a specialist without first being referred by your primary care physician, and you have much more freedom in choosing a doctor or hospital.

PPOs in California are regulated by both California Department of Insurance (CDI) and Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC).