Every year since my husband took his current job, I’ve had to ask the same question: will Blue Cross Blue Shield and Southwestern Health Resources come to terms in a timely fashion? Southwestern Health Resources is the biggest hospital/care provider in town, covering the University of Texas Southwestern system and the Texas Health system (known locally as “Presby”). It’s where almost all of my health care, including my cancer care comes from. And guess who provides our insurance?
The last time they played this game, BCBS put UTSW and Presby out of network for close to a month. We got letters advising us to find new doctors because our current doctors were out of network, though they arrived after BCBS had made their deal. I don’t know that the dispute will go that far this year. Presby doesn’t think so, because I have my semiannual checkup coming up in a week and they’re behaving like I’m insured and in-network. If I have to pay up, then I’ll know we’re in for a longer fight.
It’ll all sort out in the end. I’m generally with the doctors over the insurance company; doctors need to spend more time with patients and worry less about meeting artificial quotas than the insurance company would like. That said, I can’t imagine they won’t come to terms, just with a lot of stress for everybody in the meantime. And isn’t stress something we could all do with more of?
ETA on April 3: Apparently my insurance, while it is BCBS, is not through the Texas branch and my doctor’s office thinks I’m not affected. One less thing to worry about.
Sources:
- Dallas Observer: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas drops major North Texas hospital system from its network.
- Dallas Morning News: UT Southwestern, Texas Health Resources no longer in-network for Blue Cross Blue Shield.
- WFAA: Major North Texas healthcare provider dropped from Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance.