Insurance issue looms between Mercy Health, Cigna
By David Jacobs
Nearly 30,000 Cigna commercial insurance customers, including in the Willard community, may potentially be out of network for Mercy Health facilities on April 1, Mercy Health confirmed on Wednesday.
"Patients with a Cigna commercial plan can continue to see their Mercy Health providers through March 31," a Mercy Health statement said. "Unless an agreement on a new contract is reached, beginning April 1, Mercy Health hospitals, physicians, urgent cares, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and other care sites in Ohio will no longer be in the Cigna network."
Willard is home to Mercy Health-Willard Hospital and Mercy Health-Willard Primary Care.
Should Mercy Health go out of network, all patients will have access to care in the event of an emergency, Mercy Health said.
"We want to be transparent with our patients about this possibility well in advance so they can take steps that are best for them and their families," a Mercy Health spokeswoman, Erica Blake, said via email. "This week, letters should arrive in homes to alert patients to our negotiations."
More information can be found at www.mercy.com/cigna-updates
“We are working tirelessly to prevent any disruption in care for our patients in Ohio and are in ongoing discussions with Cigna to ensure that lifesaving treatments remain accessible," said Dr. James Tita, chief clinical officer, Mercy Health-Toledo.
"I strongly encourage all affected patients to contact Cigna directly using the number on their insurance card to express how vital it is to keep Mercy Health providers in-network and available," he said in the statement.
Mercy Health said that it remains in-network for all other major commercial insurance plans in Ohio.
This week, Mercy Health-Willard posted to Facebook about the situation. Here's the post.
WTVG-TV in Toledo reported on the situation on Tuesday. Here's its article
In a statement for a WTOL-TV story, Cigna said in part: “We hope that Bon Secours Mercy Health will do what is right for the people we both serve in this community and continue working with us to reach an affordable agreement.”