HMOs and PPOs

I was at my very first medical school interview and I had really gotten along well with my interviewer, the Dean of Admissions.  I could tell she liked me and that it was going really well.  I was going to get into medical school!  The interview was over, when suddenly she says, "Oh, you know, we decided we're going to ask these new questions.  I completely forgot.  You know how the health care system is changing and all."  Oh sure, sure.  I nodded.  Of course.  "What do you think of HMOs and PPOs?" In my mind, I'm thinking ummmm…wut? And Ohmigod, this is going to keep my out of medical school. 

With as much confidence as I could fake, I conceded, "You know what? I haven't heard a good thing about 'em."

"Ugh! They are just terrible!" She agreed.

A few weeks later, I received an acceptance letter from that school.  Maybe if I'd gone there, I would have learned what HMOs and PPOs are, because going through the DIT healthcare primer, I realized I still have no idea…