Which type of healthcare plan requires a referral to see a specialist?

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Multiple Choice

Which type of healthcare plan requires a referral to see a specialist?

HMOs use a gatekeeper model where you pick a primary care physician who coordinates all of your care. To see a specialist, you generally need a referral from that PCP, and visits are usually limited to in-network providers. This referral requirement helps keep care coordinated and costs predictable. Other plan types typically allow you to go directly to a specialist without a referral (though costs may vary and out-of-network options differ), which is why they don’t share the same gatekeeper constraint.

HMOs use a gatekeeper model where you pick a primary care physician who coordinates all of your care. To see a specialist, you generally need a referral from that PCP, and visits are usually limited to in-network providers. This referral requirement helps keep care coordinated and costs predictable. Other plan types typically allow you to go directly to a specialist without a referral (though costs may vary and out-of-network options differ), which is why they don’t share the same gatekeeper constraint.

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