Definition of "PPO"

Preferred provider organization. PPOs give policyholders a financial incentive — reasonable co-payments (also called co-pays) — to stay within the group's network of practitioners. You may go to any specialist without permission, as long as the doctor participates in the network. If you see an out-of-network doctor, you may have to pay the entire bill yourself, then submit it for reimbursement. You may have to pay a deductible if you choose to go outside the network, or pay the difference between what network doctors vs. out-of-network doctors charge.