What is a "network" in health insurance?

In health insurance, a "network" refers to a group of healthcare providers that have entered into contracts with an insurance company to deliver services to the insurance company's policyholders. These provider networks are established to create a set of rules and agreements about how much the providers will be compensated for the services they provide and ensure that insured individuals have access to a defined set of healthcare resources.

Having a network allows insurance companies to control costs by negotiating rates with these providers and streamlining the delivery of care within a specified group. Patients who seek services from these network providers typically benefit from lower out-of-pocket costs compared to utilizing out-of-network providers, as insurance plans often have different levels of reimbursement based on the network status of the provider.

The other options describe different concepts that do not align with the definition of a network. For instance, a group of policyholders is more about the customers of the insurance rather than the healthcare providers involved. The total number of patients pertains to the extent of plan enrollment rather than the arrangement of healthcare providers. An online platform for managing claims focuses on technology and processes, not on the relationships and agreements between providers and insurers.