Health Insurance Types Compared (2026)
Understand the differences between HMO, PPO, HDHP, and other plan types. Find the right insurance for your needs and budget.
| Plan Type | Avg Premium | Avg Deductible | Referrals? | Out-of-Network? | Flexibility | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMO Health Maintenance Organization | $440/mo | $1,800 | Yes | Low | ||
| PPO Preferred Provider Organization | $570/mo | $1,650 | No | High | ||
| EPO Exclusive Provider Organization | $490/mo | $1,700 | No | Medium | ||
| POS Point of Service Plan | $510/mo | $1,600 | Yes | Medium | ||
| HDHP High Deductible Health Plan | $380/mo | $3,200 | No | Medium | ||
| Catastrophic Catastrophic Health Plan | $250/mo | $9,200 | No | Medium | ||
| Medicare Advantage Medicare Advantage (Part C) | $170/mo | $400 | Yes | Low | ||
| Medigap Medicare Supplement Insurance | $220/mo | $0 | No | High | ||
| Medicare Medicare (Original/Traditional) | $175/mo | $1,632 | No | High | ||
| Medicaid Medicaid (State Health Insurance) | $0/mo | $0 | Yes | Low |
HMO - Health Maintenance Organization
An HMO plan requires you to choose a primary care physician (PCP) who coordinates your care and provides referrals to specialists. You must use in-net...
Best for: People who want lower premiums and don't mind staying in-network with a PCP coordinating care....
PPO - Preferred Provider Organization
A PPO plan offers more flexibility to see any doctor or specialist without a referral. You pay less when using in-network providers but can go out-of-...
Best for: People who want flexibility to see specialists without referrals and the option to go out-of-network...
EPO - Exclusive Provider Organization
An EPO plan is a hybrid between HMO and PPO. You must use in-network providers (like HMO) but don't need referrals to see specialists (like PPO)....
Best for: People who want lower costs than PPO but more flexibility than HMO, and are comfortable staying in-n...
POS - Point of Service Plan
A POS plan combines features of HMO and PPO. You choose a PCP who provides referrals (like HMO) but can also go out-of-network at a higher cost (like ...
Best for: People who want the cost savings of an HMO with the safety net of out-of-network coverage....
HDHP - High Deductible Health Plan
An HDHP has lower premiums but higher deductibles than traditional plans. Paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA) for tax-advantaged medical saving...
Best for: Healthy individuals who want low premiums and tax advantages through an HSA. Good for those who rare...
Catastrophic - Catastrophic Health Plan
Catastrophic plans offer the lowest premiums and are designed to protect against worst-case scenarios. Available to people under 30 or those with hard...
Best for: Healthy adults under 30 who want minimal coverage as a safety net against major medical events....
Medicare Advantage - Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurers as an alternative to Original Medicare. They include Part A and B coverage and often add dent...
Best for: Medicare beneficiaries (65+) who want bundled coverage including dental, vision, and hearing with pr...
Medigap - Medicare Supplement Insurance
Medigap policies are sold by private insurers to fill the "gaps" in Original Medicare coverage, helping pay for copayments, coinsurance, and deductibl...
Best for: Medicare beneficiaries who want predictable costs, minimal copays, and the freedom to see any doctor...
Medicare - Medicare (Original/Traditional)
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Di...
Best for: Adults 65 and older or those with qualifying disabilities who want the freedom to see any Medicare-a...
Medicaid - Medicaid (State Health Insurance)
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program providing free or very low-cost health coverage to low-income individuals, families, pregnant women, eld...
Best for: Low-income individuals and families, pregnant women, children, elderly adults, and people with disab...