Knowing the differences between medical insurance plans will help you choose the one that’s right for your health care needs.

 PPO stands for preferred provider organization

 EPO stands for exclusive provider organization.

Both plans use a network of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals. The difference between them is the way you interact with those networks.

PPO plans give you more flexibility. You don’t need a primary care physician and you can go to any health care professional you want without a referral—inside or outside of your network.

Staying inside your network means smaller copays and full coverage. If you choose to go outside your network, you’ll have higher out-of-pocket costs, and all services may not be covered.

EPO plans combine the flexibility of PPO plans with the cost-savings of HMO plans. While you do not need to choose a primary care physician with your EPO plan and you don’t need referrals to see a specialist, you will have a limited ne...