Medicare Glossary

Network

The doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other health care providers that have contracted with a health plan to provide services to members at negotiated rates. Medicare Advantage and Medigap SELECT plans have networks; Original Medicare does not.

Also known as: Provider network, In-network

Out-of-Network

Providers, facilities, or suppliers that do not have a contract with your health plan. Using out-of-network providers often costs more. Some Medicare Advantage plans (like PPOs) allow out-of-network use at higher cost; others (like HMOs) generally do not.