An in-network physician is part of your insurance companies network and is contracted by your carrier to provide lower costs for services. If you have a PPO insurance plan, you are allowed to see providers that are out-of-network, however, you are subject to higher costs and generally you will pay a larger percentage of the total cost of care. If you have an HMO or EPO plan, you will generally pay all costs associated with providers that are outside of your network.