The Fee-For-Service

The Fee-for-service is the most basic of insurance plans. This plan just pays X amount or X% on a clinic visit, "Y" amount or "Y%" on an ambulance ride, etc.  This plan often does not care what doctor you see, what hospital treats you, etc. They will just pay what they agree to pay, end of story.

This type of plan is becoming increasingly rare and more expensive. It lacks the cost savings for insurance companies of a PPO and HMO and lacks the marketing advantages for doctors of being a member of a HMO or PPO network.