Many of our readers have come to us with questions about the different types of health plans sold on the individual market.

Understandably, there is a lot of confusion about the types of plans because there are no industry-wide definitions and because state standards are different.

To help you better understand the different types of plans, here are some generalities:

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO): HMOs only cover care provided by doctors and hospitals within the network.

Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO): PPOs cover care in and out of the plan provider’s network. There is typically a higher percentage of the cost for care provided out-of-network, paid for by the members.

Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPO): EPOs generally do not cover care outside of the plan provider’s network. They are similar to HMOs, but members may not need a referral to see a specialist.

Point of Service (POS): POS plans often combine aspects of HMOs and PPOs. There may be coverage for out-of-network care that comes with higher cost sharing. Members also may need a referral to see a specialist.

There is a lot of variety from one plan to the next, despite how the plans are labeled.

When looking at plans, make sure to ask some basic questions about coverage, such as:

• If members are required to have a primary care physician,
• If members are required to get referrals for specialists or services,
• If any healthcare services need to be pre-authorized,
• If there is out-of-network coverage, and
• If there is out-of-network coverage, does spending count toward the out-of-pocket maximum?

All this month we are answering your questions and we will be answering even more in this month’s webinar Ask Lori-Ann Your Healthcare Questions on January 27, 2016 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Reserve your spot now! Bring your questions to the webinar or submit them in advance by email or on Facebook or Twitter.