{"id":10087,"date":"2023-11-09T07:03:28","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T07:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/?p=10087"},"modified":"2023-11-09T07:09:56","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T07:09:56","slug":"empowering-patients-bjc-healthcares-breakthrough-aca-partnership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/empowering-patients-bjc-healthcares-breakthrough-aca-partnership\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering Patients | BJC HealthCare’s Breakthrough ACA Partnership"},"content":{"rendered":"

BJC HealthCare secures a new ACA plan with Aetna. This agreement, launching on January 1, brings relief to BJC patients facing the departure of Cigna Connect. Aetna’s CareLink St. Louis plans, now available, cover a wide range of Missouri counties. Patients have until December 15 to enroll for January 1 coverage. Washington University Physicians also join the network. It is vital that patients carefully review their matched plans and consult with providers. BJC offers counseling services to aid in plan selection.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In a transformative development, BJC HealthCare has cemented a game-changing alliance with Aetna to enhance Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage options for patients. Commencing on January 1, this collaboration is a beacon of hope for BJC patients, bridging the gap left by Cigna Connect’s impending exit. Aetna’s CareLink St. Louis plans, now accessible, offer extensive coverage across select Missouri counties. This innovative partnership underscores the importance of patient empowerment and informed decision-making in the evolving healthcare landscape.<\/p>\n

BJC HealthCare has successfully reached a pivotal agreement with a new Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance plan through Aetna, set to take effect on January 1st. This development brings relief to BJC patients, especially those while signing up for ACA plans as the federal open enrollment period kicks off this week. The prior carrier of individual marketplace plans covering BJC, Cigna, operating under the brand “Cigna Connect,” is set to exit Missouri’s ACA marketplace by 2024, leaving many BJC patients uncertain about their future coverage options and potential medical provider changes.<\/p>\n

J.C. McWilliams, the Vice President of Managed Care for BJC, revealed that the health system had been aware of Cigna’s potential withdrawal from the marketplace since the previous year. As a proactive measure, BJC initiated discussions with other insurance providers to ensure an alternative marketplace product to supplement or replace Cigna Connect.<\/p>\n

In recent interviews, both BJC and Aetna officials unveiled the specifics of the new marketplace option and provided essential information for patients.<\/p>\n

The Aetna plans covering BJC will be marketed under the “CareLink St. Louis” brand, distinct from the “CareLink” label on the main page of search results on HealthCare.gov. To access CareLink St. Louis plans, users must click on an Aetna plan, scroll down, click on “Plan documents,” and then select “Summary of Benefits.”<\/p>\n

The federal open enrollment period, allowing individuals to sign up for or modify their marketplace health insurance, began on Wednesday. December 15th is the final day to enroll through the health insurance marketplace to ensure coverage starting on January 1st. The absolute last day for enrollment is January 15th, with coverage commencing on February 1st. Certain patients may qualify for a “special enrollment period” if they have experienced major life events such as moving, marriage, or having a baby.<\/p>\n

McWilliams advised patients to commence their reviews early, as December 31st marks the termination date for Cigna Connect plans’ coverage in Missouri. It’s important to note that Cigna’s commercial, Medicare, and individual dental insurance offerings in Missouri will remain unaffected.<\/p>\n

Aetna had initially participated in Missouri’s exchanges when they were first introduced in 2014 but exited before the 2017 open enrollment period. In recent years, Aetna has recommitted to the marketplace on a national scale. The insurer re-entered Missouri’s marketplace in 2022 and has expanded its presence over time.<\/p>\n

Aetna is set to offer marketplace plans in 55 Missouri counties in 2024, with CareLink plans covering BJC available in only nine counties, including St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Ste. Genevieve, Lincoln, and Warren. These areas encompass most of BJC’s operational areas, but they do not include residents of Crawford County, near BJC’s hospital in Sullivan, or St. Francois County, near BJC’s Parkland Health Center in Farmington. Aetna is actively evaluating its footprint and may consider expansion into these two counties in 2025.<\/p>\n

For BJC patients residing in Illinois, marketplace plans will continue to be available through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.<\/p>\n

The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance has stated that the federal government will match Cigna’s current individual marketplace members with alternate plans for the upcoming year. However, BJC and Aetna officials have indicated uncertainty regarding the matching of Cigna Connect patients with Aetna CareLink plans. Patients are strongly advised to review the plans they have been matched with and ascertain whether they are the most suitable options for their needs.<\/p>\n

Patients should directly consult their medical providers to determine which insurance coverage they accept, irrespective of their health system affiliation, as exceptions can sometimes exist. Relying solely on information from online directories, which may not always be up to date, is discouraged.<\/p>\n

Some patients may wish to seek assistance from a trusted insurance agent. BJC offers a free counseling program designed to help individuals select marketplace plans. Patients can request an appointment online or by calling 855-747-4994 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. During the call, the center will gather essential household information and provide a list of required documents for the appointment. At the appointment, a counselor will assist in identifying plans that align with the patient’s needs and determine whether they qualify for subsidies. While some appointments may be held virtually, many are in-person at BJC facilities. The duration of these appointments may vary based on the complexity of the patient’s situation and their familiarity with the marketplace. Additional information about the program is available at BJC.org\/marketplace.<\/p>\n

Washington University has also finalized an agreement with Aetna, and CareLink St. Louis will encompass Washington University Physicians in 2024. This partnership aims to provide patients with expanded access to healthcare options.<\/p>\n

Overall, the collaboration between BJC HealthCare and Aetna signifies an important development for BJC patients seeking ACA coverage. The introduction of CareLink St. Louis offers a viable alternative, ensuring that individuals can continue to access essential healthcare services in the evolving landscape of insurance plans. Patients are encouraged to proactively explore their options and seek expert guidance to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare coverage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BJC HealthCare secures a new ACA plan with Aetna. This agreement, launching on January 1, brings relief to BJC patients… Continue Reading <\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10088,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-10087","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-distilinfo-originals","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10087"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10087"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10091,"href":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10087\/revisions\/10091"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}