Which type of network is defined where the patient's primary care physician need not be a member and costs outside the network may be partially reimbursed?

The correct answer is based on the structure and flexibility offered by various health insurance plans. A PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization, allows patients the freedom to receive care from providers both inside and outside of the network. This means that a patient is not required to obtain a referral from a primary care physician to see a specialist, and they can choose to see out-of-network providers at a higher cost.

The hallmark of a PPO is that while receiving care from in-network providers tends to be more cost-effective due to negotiated rates, patients still have the option to go outside of the network and can be partially reimbursed for those services. This flexibility makes PPOs attractive to those who prefer not to have strict guidelines around their choice of healthcare providers and specialists.

In contrast, HMO plans typically require members to select a primary care physician who manages their healthcare and refers them to specialists within the network, with little or no coverage for out-of-network services. A POS plan features a combination of HMO and PPO elements but still often requires a primary care physician and focuses primarily on in-network services. An MAC, or Managed Care Program, is not as commonly referred to in this context and does not fit the definitions of cost sharing and physician choice described.