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RESOLVED: UnitedHealthcare vs SSM Health

Network Contract Watch

SSM Health and UnitedHealthcare (UHC) have signed a multi-year agreement to continue caring for more than 140,000 UnitedHealthcare-covered patients across the state of Missouri. This agreement means patients with commercial (employer-sponsored) and Medicaid UnitedHealthcare plans can continue receiving care from the SSM Health doctors and hospitals they know and trust without disruption at in-network rates.

This multiple year agreement follows the Letter of Agreement signed on December 31, 2025, that protected patients’ access while both parties came to a full agreement.

If patients have canceled or postponed any appointments, they should reschedule online via MyChart or call their SSM Health provider’s office to resume care as they normally would.

Source: SSM Health

UnitedHealthcare vs SSM Health

Network Contract Watch

SSM Health and United Healthcare agreed to extend their current contract for 30 days, or through January 31, 2026.

Negotiations have threatened in-network medical coverage for more than 140,000 people in the bi-state region.

United Healthcare says without a new contract, SSM’s hospitals, facilities, and physicians in Missouri and Illinois would be ineligible for United’s Medicaid and employer-sponsored plans.

Both sides are expected to continue talks in January. For now, United Healthcare patients can continue seeing SSM Health providers at in-network rates.

Sources: Columbia Missourian, Fox 2 News

RESOLVED: Aetna vs BJC Health

Network Contract Watch

BJC Health has reached an agreement with Aetna on all key terms for a new, multi-year agreement for commercial, or group, plans and a one-year agreement for its Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. This agreement ensures BJC HealthCare and Saint Luke’s entities, including hospitals and physician and provider practices, remain in-network.

As a result of these negotiations, there will be no lapse in BJC’s network participation or in-network benefits for Aetna members.

Source: BJC Health

UnitedHealthcare vs SSM Health

Network Contract Watch

Patients who use both SSM Health doctors and UnitedHealthcare insurance received letters warning that if the two sides don’t reach an agreement by December 31, they will have to find new doctors or pay higher out-of-network costs.

While the article states that SSM Health has created a microsite for affected patients, it states that UnitedHealthcare didn’t respond to a request for comment. As per one of my earlier posts, they have also created a microsite for affected members.

The article also notes that negotiations between Aetna and BJC Health are expected to conclude successfully.

Source: First Alert 4

Aetna vs BJC Health

Network Contract Watch

Spokespeople for both Aetna and BJC Health have reported that the two sides have agreed on “key terms” and “are working to finalize documentation for an uninterrupted contract renewal effective January 1, 2026, for Aetna’s commercial and Medicare Advantage plans.”

This does not mean the situation is resolved, so members should continue to monitor. However, it does point to a strong possibility of resolution without any interruption in network status.

Members will be notified once agreements are finalized.

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch via InsuranceNewsNet

Aetna vs BJC Health

Network Contract Watch

BJC Health and health insurer Aetna have yet to reach coverage agreements for the upcoming year, leaving St. Louis-area patients in limbo.

Without a new agreement, BJC Health will be out of Aetna’s coverage network employer-sponsored commercial plans beginning on January 1.

The ongoing talks affect patients in BJC’s eastern region, as well as BJC’s facilities in western Missouri operating as St. Luke’s Health System. That system is not connected to St. Luke’s Hospital in the St. Louis area.

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch via InsuranceNewsNet