Which organization is responsible for providing comprehensive health care services to voluntarily enrolled members on a prepaid basis?

The correct answer is HMO, which stands for Health Maintenance Organization. An HMO is designed to provide comprehensive health care services to its members who voluntarily enroll for coverage. Members typically pay a fixed monthly premium, which covers a range of medical services, including preventive care, hospitalizations, and specialist visits, often with lower out-of-pocket costs than other insurance models.

One of the key features of an HMO is that it emphasizes preventive care and wellness. By requiring members to select a primary care physician (PCP), the HMO streamlines care coordination and management, ensuring that patients receive appropriate services within the network. Costs are controlled through managed care practices, and members usually need a referral from their PCP to see a specialist.

In contrast, the other options represent different types of health insurance plans that do not primarily follow the same prepaid structure with comprehensive coverage that an HMO does. For instance, PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations) offer more flexibility in choosing healthcare providers but typically do not require a fixed prepaid arrangement for care. Similarly, POS (Point of Service) plans combine elements of HMO and PPO structures, requiring referrals for specialist visits but allowing members to choose out-of-network providers at a higher cost. URO (Utilization Review