Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem) notified MU Health Care today that it no longer wishes to negotiate on its commercial contracts. 

Effective tomorrow, April 1, MU Health Care’s more than 1,200 providers, 80 clinics and seven hospitals will be removed from Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield and HealthLink commercial plans that patients get through their employer or the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. This means patients may have to pay more out of pocket to see their MU Health Care doctors and care teams or may need to find a new, in-network provider for their care.

In February, Anthem made the decision to stop negotiating on a new Medicare Advantage contract and to remove MU Health Care from that network effective April 1, 2025. Following this decision, MU Health Care continued negotiating with Anthem to remain in their commercial insurance network and remained open to negotiating on a new Medicare Advantage contract.

“It is our highest priority to help our patients who currently have Anthem coverage navigate their care options including continuing care with MU Health Care, if possible,” said Dr. Stevan Whitt, MU Health Care chief medical officer.

Patients with certain ongoing medical conditions may qualify for continuity of care to extend their in-network coverage. Anthem makes the final determination on eligibility, but MU Health Care has provided instructions for patients to help them determine if they are eligible, and how to apply.

This network change does not impact Healthy Blue Medicaid or University of Missouri Student Advantage plans, prescriptions Anthem members get through Mizzou Pharmacy or patients who need medically necessary emergency care.

MU Health Care has also established a dedicated call center at 573-650-5409 available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST, to answer patient questions and help them understand their options while MU Health Care is out of Anthem’s network. Additional information and updates are available at muhealth.org/anthem. 

Contact: Eric Maze, mazee@health.missouri.edu, 573-884-3656