ST. LOUIS — BJC HealthCare, the region’s largest health care provider, will stay in-network for patients who have insurance through Cigna Healthcare, both sides announced Wednesday.
“We are pleased to announce that the BJC system in both regions will remain in network with Cigna’s commercial plans as of August 1st and beyond,†said Laura High, spokesperson for BJC, in a statement.
A spokesperson for Cigna also said an agreement had been reached.
“An agreement has been reached with Saint Luke’s Health System and BJC HealthCare to continue providing in-network health care for the people we jointly serve in the region,†said Jocelyn Parker, spokesperson for Cigna, in a statement.
The agreement between BJC and Cigna expired July 1 but was extended through July as both sides continued negotiations.
BJC Health System operates as BJC HealthCare in eastern Missouri. It merged with the St. Luke’s Health System in western Missouri last year.
Cigna in 2023 had about 10% market share in Missouri for group comprehensive medical expense coverage for large employers, according to the Department of Commerce and Insurance.
The lack of agreement between Cigna and BJC had left some local patients in limbo as they faced the possibility of paying more to see BJC physicians.
It was the latest example of insurance companies and health care providers taking negotiations to the 11th hour.
The Mercy health care system and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, for example, announced a deal extending coverage for over 2 million Missourians in early December, less than a month before Mercy was scheduled to be dropped from Anthem’s network if no agreement was reached.
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