The letters on a health plan ; HMO, PPO, EPO, POS decide how much freedom you have to pick doctors and how much you'll pay. Get this wrong and you either overpay every month or get stuck with a network that doesn't include your doctor. Here's the plain-English version. HMO - lowest cost, least flexibility An HMO keeps premiums low by keeping you inside a defined network. You pick a primary care doctor, and you generally need a referral to see a specialist. Go outside the net
