Describe what a POS plan is and how it helps plan members with the ability to choose their services.

A point-of-service plan (POS) is a hybrid of the HMO and PPO models. An individual enrolled in the PPO plan pays a premium and his or her care is managed by a primary care provider, similarly to an HMO. However, unlike an HMO the member can still obtain care from a provider outside of the preferred network. The coverage for services rendered by an out-of-network provider is reimbursed at a lesser rate in keeping with the PPO model. The remaining charges and increased copays resulting from receiving services from a provider outside of the preferred group are the responsibility of the insured. By enrolling in a point-of-service plan, members choose the type of provider to use and how much out-of-pocket expense they are willing to pay in return for that ability to choose.