Which option best describes the flexibility of using preferred vs. non-preferred providers in a PPO plan?

In a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan, members enjoy a higher level of flexibility when choosing their healthcare providers, especially when it comes to using non-preferred providers. By design, PPO plans allow beneficiaries to seek care from both preferred and non-preferred providers. While using preferred providers typically results in lower out-of-pocket costs and more covered services, members are not limited to these networks—they can also receive care from non-preferred providers.

The appeal of this structure is that it empowers enrollees to make choices that best fit their individual healthcare needs, even if it means incurring higher out-of-pocket costs for services rendered by non-preferred providers. This aspect of PPO plans provides members with significant flexibility to access a wider range of specialists and facilities as necessary, without needing referrals, which is a common limitation in other types of health plans.

While preferred providers offer certain financial incentives, the inherent nature of the PPO plan enables members to have more autonomy in their health care decisions, illustrating why the option describing more flexibility with non-preferred providers is the right choice.