Which health plan requires you to see a primary care physician first and remain within a specific network?

The correct answer is the health maintenance organization (HMO) plan. An HMO requires members to choose a primary care physician (PCP) who coordinates their healthcare, and referrals from that PCP are typically necessary to see specialists. This structure emphasizes preventive care and managed health services within a defined network of providers, which means that members must generally use the HMO network for their healthcare needs, except in emergencies.

In contrast, while other plan types like PPOs and POS plans offer more flexibility in terms of choosing providers and do not always require a referral, they do not have the same stringent requirements regarding seeing a primary care physician first or staying strictly within a specific network as HMOs do. An EPO, similar to an HMO, has a network requirement but does not typically require a PCP or referrals for specialist services. Thus, the features of HMOs make them distinct, supporting the chosen answer.