An HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, is a type of health insurance plan that provides health services through a network of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers for a fixed annual or monthly fee
. HMOs have their own network of healthcare providers who have agreed to accept payment at a certain level for any services they provide, which allows the HMO to keep costs in check for its members
. HMOs typically limit coverage to care from doctors who work for or contract with the HMO and generally do not cover out-of-network care except in an emergency
. HMOs also often require members to choose a primary care physician and obtain a referral from them to see a specialist
