In August, many BFT members received notification that Cigna would drop coverage for Hartford Hospital and its affiliates. That dispute has now been resolved, and members can expect no disruption of services in their coverage.
Below is a Hartford Courant article:
Cigna, Hartford HealthCare End Impasse
Patients at four hospitals in Greater Hartford who have Cigna Corp. as their health
insurer won’t face higher out-of-network rates starting Oct. 1, Cigna said Tuesday.
Cigna, based in Bloomfield, and Hartford HealthCare “have agreed to amend their existing agreement and will work over the next several weeks to complete a new multi-year, value-based contract,” said Cigna spokesman Mark Slitt.
The insurer and the hospital system, which includes Hartford Hospital, were at an impasse after months of contract negotiations, which has become a common problem between hospitals and insurers as they wrestle with medical costs and customers’ willingness to pay.
Hartford HealthCare sent letters Aug. 9 warning of potentially higher rates that could affect 20,900 Cigna customers who have been patients at any of Hartford HealthCare’s acute care facilities: Hartford Hospital, MidState Medical Center in Meriden, Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain and Southington, and Windham Hospital in Willimantic. The current contract expires Sept. 30.
“We expect no disruption for Cigna customers who want to get care at Hartford Hospital or the other hospitals in the Hartford HealthCare system, including MidState Medical Center in Meriden, The Hospital of Central Connecticut (New Britain Campus and Bradley Campus in Southington) and Windham Hospital in Willimantic,” Slitt wrote via e-mail Tuesday.
Hartford HealthCare Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey A. Flaks said in a prepared statement, “This new contract will allow our patients to continue to use services at all Hartford HealthCare hospitals and facilities and with all Hartford HealthCare physicians on an in-network basis.”
Bristol Federation of Teachers 