When you belong to a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), you will usually be asked to choose a physician that belongs “in-network”. What does in-network mean? It means that the insurance company has arranged with a network of physicians, hospitals and other healthcare providers to provide healthcare to its members. Usually this network of providers has agreed to provide services at rates that are much lower than normal, in return for more business from insurance companies. Insurance companies do this to keep their costs low. Choosing an in-network doctor usually costs less for the consumer. Often PPO’s agree to pay most or all of the cost of a visit to an …