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
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
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