Meridian Health Services has announced that insurance company Anthem is unexpectedly ending their relationship for Medicaid patients starting July 25.
Anthem will try to transfer more than 18,000 patients to a new care provider, most likely further away from their current care providers, Meridian officials said in their announcement.
They said patients might face difficulties in getting the care they need because of the time it takes to find a new doctor, potential wait times for appointments and the providers Anthem offers might not be easy to reach or the ones preferred.
In addition, they cited statistics predicting more emergency room visits and hospitalizations with less access to regular health care as well as more justice system involvement with mental health treatment.
Anthem will continue to cover private and commercially insured Meridian patients.
Meridian officials say that some patients might qualify to stay with their current provider for a limited additional time through Continuity of Care requirements for those who are pregnant, have a serious health condition, or are in the middle of a treatment course such as therapy, substance use treatment or other ongoing care.
Anthem decides who qualifies.
Patients can contact Anthem to request the Continuity of Care form. For Anthem Hoosier Healthwise and Healthy Indiana Plan, call 866-408-6131; Anthem Hoosier Care Connect, 844-284-1797; and Anthem Indiana PathWays for Aging, 833-412-4405.
Meridian is a nonprofit health system with 87 locations across Indiana. For more information, call 855-634-2439 or visit meridianhs.org/anthem/.
A version of this article appeared in the July 22 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.