Which of the following best describes a POS plan?

• A. No gatekeeper; network-only
• B. Requires referral but no gatekeeper
• C. Freedom of provider; PCP gatekeeper; requires referral; mix of PPO and HMO
• D. Capitation only

Answer: (C)

Point-of-service plans are a hybrid that blends features of HMOs and PPOs. You choose a primary care physician who acts as the gatekeeper and you generally need referrals to see specialists. At the same time, you have the option to see providers outside the network, though this usually comes with higher out-of-pocket costs. This combination—PCP gatekeeping with referrals, plus the freedom to go out of network—best fits the POS model.

The other descriptions don’t capture this blend: one describes a network-only, gatekeeper-free setup; another cites referrals without gatekeeping; and another focuses on a payment arrangement rather than how care is accessed.