What is a Point-of-Service (POS) plan primarily designed to do?

A Point-of-Service (POS) plan is primarily designed to coordinate patient care through assigned primary care physicians. This structure emphasizes the role of the primary care physician in guiding a patient’s healthcare journey, which includes managing referrals to specialists and ensuring that the patient receives appropriate and timely care. The assigned primary care physician serves as a central point for medical decision-making, promoting coordinated and effective treatment strategies while also helping to manage costs and prevent unnecessary services.

The coordination aspect is particularly important in ensuring continuity of care, which can lead to improved health outcomes. Patients can choose to receive care either within the network of providers, where costs are typically lower, or go outside the network for more flexibility, although this usually comes with higher out-of-pocket expenses. This design encourages patients to establish a relationship with a primary care provider who can advocate for their health needs.

In contrast, while the other choices reference relevant aspects of health insurance plans, they do not accurately capture the primary purpose of a POS plan, which is fundamentally centered on coordinated care through primary physicians.