11.   Patients gain by paying lower out-of-pocket costs if they choose a preferred provider.

12.   Robert Marshall, a race track clerk for the New York Racing Association, said he tries to stay in his preferred provider network.

13.   Small companies say the preferred provider plans help them to recruit and retain employees.

14.   So companies like Texas-based Care Entree are buying preferred provider lists.

15.   The alliance will make Icon a so-called preferred provider of interactive services to Interpublic agencies.

16.   The company has been paying most employee premiums in a preferred provider plan.

17.   The insurer buys the list of names and gives it to patients, calling the doctors and hospitals preferred providers.

18.   WellPoint markets a variety of products, including indemnity plans for large businesses, preferred provider networks and HMOs.

19.   When the account is exhausted, they have to use their own money until they reach a deductible threshold, after which traditional preferred provider coverage takes over.

20.   Dell uses Intel as its preferred provider of computer chips, meaning any loss of Intel market share would affect it more than most other computer manufacturers.