It’s been a little over three weeks since tens of thousands of area Reid Health patients found out that Anthem health insurance may not cover their medical costs after March 17, and both organizations say negotiations are ongoing.
In a Jan. 29 letter mailed to more than 44,000 recipients, Reid announced it had not yet been able to reach acceptable terms for a contract renewal with Anthem, and that there was a chance Reid providers would soon be considered out-of-network for anyone using a plan or product from the insurance company.
An Anthem spokesperson told WWN on Feb. 23 that while Anthem has been recommending its members schedule elective procedures with other health systems in case an agreement cannot be reached, they “remain committed to securing affordable access to care for Hoosiers and will continue to negotiate.”
A Reid representative said that conversations are still in progress and that they are “hopeful” that an agreement will be reached before the deadline.
The health care provider changed its initial policy of not scheduling new appointments for Anthem members past March 17 after listening to patient feedback. Reid is encouraging patients to let the process play out before making any changes, and advised that Anthem members who have an existing care plan with a provider and who might qualify for a “continuity of care” extension should submit the necessary paperwork to Anthem for approval of that additional coverage. Forms are available from Reid and on both the Reid and Anthem websites.
Reid established a dedicated help line for questions about the announcement, 765-965-4250.
A version of this article appeared in the February 28 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.