Certified Medical Administrative Assistants (CMAA) Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive All-In-One Guide to Exam Success!

The managed care plan that allows patients to see nonparticipating providers while paying a higher cost is the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). PPOs are designed to offer more flexibility than other types of managed care plans, such as Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs).

In a PPO, members are encouraged to use a network of preferred providers to receive the highest level of benefits, but they have the option to see nonparticipating providers. While this choice provides access to a broader range of healthcare services and specialists, it typically comes with higher out-of-pocket costs, such as higher copayments or deductibles.

This flexibility is a key characteristic of PPOs, distinguishing them from other plans like HMOs, which usually require members to choose a primary care physician and get referrals for specialists, and EPOs, which do not cover any out-of-network care except in emergencies. Point of Service (POS) plans combine features of both PPOs and HMOs but generally require a primary care physician and referrals to specialists. In summary, the structure of a PPO allows patients to seek care outside their network, aligning with the answer provided.