HEALTH INSURANCE

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): HMOs typically require you to choose a primary care physician (PCP) who coordinates all of your health care services. You can only see doctors and specialists within the HMO network.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO): PPOs give you more flexibility in choosing health care providers than HMOs. You can see doctors and specialists both in and out of the network, but you'll generally pay less if you stay in-network.

Point of Service (POS): POS plans are a hybrid of HMOs and PPOs. Like HMOs, you'll have a PCP who coordinates your care. You'll typically pay less if you see providers in-network, but you can also see out-of-network providers with higher costs.

High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP): HDHPs typically have lower monthly premiums, but you'll have a higher deductible that you'll need to meet before the insurance kicks in. HDHPs can be paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA), which allows you to save money tax-free to pay for medical expenses.

Catastrophic Health Insurance Plan: Catastrophic health insurance plans have lower monthly premiums and high deductibles. These plans typically only cover emergency services and some preventive care.

Short-term Health Insurance Plan: Short-term health insurance plans offer coverage for a limited period of time, usually less than a year. These plans are typically used to bridge gaps in coverage or during times of transition, such as between jobs.

Medicare: Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, or for people under 65 with certain disabilities. Medicare is broken down into several parts, including Part A (hospital insurance), Part B (medical insurance), Part C (Medicare Advantage), and Part D (prescription drug coverage).