For many Americans, their health insurance policy represents a significant source of stress in their lives. With the costs of diagnostic and medical treatments on the rise and with increasing medical problems across a broad range of demographics, citizens of all ages and health levels find themselves paying a great deal more for insurance than they once did. This can lead to serious stress for families as they try to find a plan that best meets their health needs while still offering a cost that they can afford. In the United States, the most common type of health insurance policy comes in the form of HMO health insurance, but there are several other options that are now competing with HMOs, and may offer consumers a broader range of choices.

HMOs or "health management organizations" work on the principle of provider networks; that is, they employ doctors and specialists who become members of the network and provide services only to those patients who are enrolled in the plan. These programs typically have very limited network coverage - while they may have a broad base of medical professionals, any services that are accessed outside of the network can be extremely costly for patients. Because of their focus, HMOs are often able to offer reasonable rates to consumers who are looking for a healthcare plan, but this can result in a limiting or services or a feeling of being trapped within the plan itself. As with all healthcare options, the effectiveness of an HMO will vary by plan, but there are two other options on the rise competing with this historical medical service.

First are preferred provider organizations (PPO), which allow for a broader range of treatments from a greater number of professionals. These plans will often come with less direct coverage than HMO plans but with a large geographical area of coverage. Another option for consumers is a self-directed plan, which allows more direct management of health care funds by patients themselves. Self-directed plans will have very loose medical professional affiliates, allowing consumers to pick and choose the services they receive and manage them dollar by dollar.

While PPOs and self-directed plans can offer several advantages over traditional HMO health insurance, they will often come with less access to specialists and may feature longer wait times for service. Each type of plan has its advantages and disadvantages, but each is now viable in the new American healthcare landscape. Finding a great health insurance policy is still possible, and with the new choices available to Americans finding one that is both effective and reasonably priced is a matter of choice, rather than one of necessity.