Important Information for Accessing UC Davis Health with Anthem Blue Cross Insurance

Anthem Blue Cross has terminated its agreement with UC Health, including UC Davis Health, jeopardizing in-network access to care for millions of Californians. If a new agreement is not in place by December 31, 2023, UC Davis Health will be considered out-of-network for Anthem Blue Cross members beginning January 1, 2024.

For now, access to UC Davis Health for Anthem Blue Cross members remains unchanged. You can still see your doctor and get treatments at UC Davis Health until December 31, 2023 without any changes. We look forward to being, and remaining, your partner in health care and your health care provider.

What Does This Mean?

If UC Davis Health is excluded from Anthem Blue Cross’ network beginning on January 1, 2024, patients with Anthem Blue Cross health plans could face significantly higher out-of-pocket expenses – or even find that Anthem will no longer cover their health care costs through UC Davis Health at all.

If a new agreement is not in place by December 31, 2023, UC Davis Health would be ‘out-of-network’ for the following:

• Patients who have selected an Anthem plan through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System
• Patients who selected an Anthem plan through their employer
• Patients who purchased an Anthem plan in the Covered California marketplace
• Patients with Medicare Advantage plans administered by Anthem
• Patients with Medi-Cal plans administered by Anthem
• UC medical residents and fellows who are enrolled in the Anthem HMO plan

This termination does not affect the in-network availability of UC Health facilities and providers for UC employees, UC students with UC SHIP coverage, UC medical residents and fellows in the PPO plan or UC retirees. Their health plans are governed by separate UC-Anthem agreements.

What Can You Do?

Although nothing is changing before January 1, 2024, you can look for an alternate health plan during your open enrollment period to ensure you can continue to access care from UC Davis Health and avoid potentially increased co-pays and disruptions in 2024:

• The CalPERS open enrollment period runs from September 18 through October 13, 2023. You can use this time to evaluate other plan options.
• If you are a patient with a Medicare Advantage, you may choose to consider your options during your open enrollment period beginning October 15.
• People with Medi-Cal coverage can change plans at any time if there are other plans available in your county.
• People who purchase their health plan through Covered California can review plan choices during open enrollment from November 1 through January 31.
• Anthem patients who get their insurance from their employer typically have open enrollment periods in the Fall during which they can review health plan options.

A full list of health insurance plans accepted by UC Davis Health is available here.

What Are We Doing?

In the months ahead, we will negotiate with Anthem in an effort to secure a new agreement before the end of the year A new agreement would allow you to continue to receive health care from us without interruptions or added costs. As a trusted local care provider, we have a responsibility to ensure we are in the best position to provide high-quality care to our patients and community members. UC Davis Health needs a fair agreement with Anthem to maintain the standard of care you rely on.

Some Common Questions

Q: What is happening?

A: Anthem Blue Cross has terminated its agreement with UC Health, effective December 31, 2023, jeopardizing in-network access to care for millions of Californians at UC Davis Health and all UC Health locations across the state. UC Davis Health is in negotiations for a new agreement with Anthem that covers the exceptional care we provide to Californians covered by Anthem.

Q: When does the current in-network agreement with Anthem end?

A: Our agreement expires after December 31, 2023.

Q: Which Anthem health plans are affected by the negotiations?

A: The following patients are impacted by the negotiations:

• Patients who selected an Anthem plan through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System
• Patients who selected an Anthem plan through their employer
• Patients who purchased an Anthem plan in the Covered California marketplace
• Patients with Medicare Advantage plans administered by Anthem
• Patients with Medi-Cal plans administered by Anthem
• UC medical residents and fellows who are enrolled in the Anthem HMO plan

Q: Which UC health care professionals and facilities are impacted?

A: All UC Health hospitals, facilities and health care professionals rely on this agreement with Anthem to remain in network for you.

Q: I have an Anthem plan. What does this mean for me?

A: For now, nothing changes. You can still see your doctor and get care at UC Davis Health until December 31, 2023, without any changes. Due to Anthem’s decision to terminate our contract, we cannot guarantee you will have this same access to in-network care after December 31, 2023. Despite their decision to terminate before our negotiations had even begun, we continue to make it clear that we are prepared to negotiate in good faith in hopes of avoiding a disruption in your healthcare and potentially higher out-of-network charges.

Q: Why is it important for UC Davis Health to have a contract with Anthem?

A: Anthem is using its strength and size to demand unfair contractual arrangements for our services, even as it consistently raises member premiums and reports record profits for shareholders. UC Davis Health consistently ranks among the nation’s best across a variety of specialties. We bring the power of internationally renowned academic medicine to patients in the communities we serve, delivering the absolute best of what’s possible in health care. As one of the region’s most vital health care resources, UC Davis Health needs a fair agreement with Anthem to maintain the standard of care that our patients rely on for their health.