PPO

noun

ˌpē-(ˌ)pē-ˈō 

plural PPOs

: an organization providing health care that gives economic incentives to the individual purchaser of a health care contract to patronize certain physicians, laboratories, and hospitals that agree to supervision and reduced fees compare hmo

Examples of PPO in a Sentence

I'm not sure if that doctor belongs to my PPO.

Recent Examples on the Web

The firm had a strong PPO plan and a generous HSA contribution, but only about a third of eligible employees were enrolled in the HSA, and most couldn't articulate the difference between their deductible and their out-of-pocket maximum. — Jennifer Schaefer, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

The contract extension covers about 100 patients in Cigna HMO plans in the Sacramento area, and potentially a few thousand patients covered by PPO plans, but the hospital system did not provide exact numbers. — Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

The mechanism is an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase, or PPO, abundant in bananas, which destroys flavanols both during blending and inside the stomach. — Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026

Starting in 2027, individual plan users will be required to pay $75 per month for a PPO plan with previously no premium. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

preferred provider organization

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

PPO

noun

ˌpē-(ˌ)pē-ˈō 

plural PPOs

: an organization providing health care that gives economic incentives to the individual purchaser of a health care contract to patronize certain physicians, laboratories, and hospitals which agree to supervision and reduced fees

called also preferred provider organization

compare hmo