Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

BlueCross and BlueShield of Texas (BCBSTX)– Commercial and Government Contracts

Temporary Contract Extension Effective July 1 until July 31, 2025

We would like to inform you we have agreed to a thirty-day contract extension with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas to keep CHRISTUS Health hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and physicians in network until July 31, 2025, while we work to finalize a long-term agreement.

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section for more information regarding specific termination information by benefit plan. CHRISTUS Health is truly honored to serve our patients, and we thank our communities for putting trust in us.

Please continue to check our website for updates as we fight for your best interests. For additional questions not addressed in our FAQ section, please contact our customer service department at (800) 422-0490. We remain committed to negotiating a fair contract to maintain your access to high-quality health care at the affordable rates you deserve.

FAQ

Which BCBSTX plans would be impacted by a contract termination? 
  • Blue Advantage HMO (BAV) – effective 7/31/2025
  • Blue Choice PPO – effective 7/31/2025
  • Blue Essentials HMO – effective 7/31/2025
  • Blue Cross Medicare Advantage HMO – effective 7/31/2025
  • Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO – effective 7/31/2025
  • Medicaid – effective 7/31/2025
  • FEP Blue Standard, FEP Blue Basic, FEP Blue Focus – effective 7/31/2025
  • ParPlan – effective 7/31/2025
Which CHRISTUS Health hospitals, physician clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers would be impacted by a termination? 

CHRISTUS Health Northeast Texas:

  • CHRISTUS Health Good Shepherd Medical Center - Northpark
  • CHRISTUS Health Good Shepherd Medical Center - Kilgore
  • CHRISTUS Health Good Shepherd Medical Center - Longview
  • CHRISTUS Health Good Shepherd Medical Center - Marshall
  • CHRISTUS Health Mother Frances Hospital – Canton
  • CHRISTUS Health Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville (Critical Access Hospital)
  • CHRISTUS Health Mother Frances Hospital - South Tyler
  • CHRISTUS Health Mother Frances Hospital - Sulphur Springs (Rural Hospital)
  • CHRISTUS Health Mother Frances Hospital - Tyler
  • CHRISTUS Health Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro (Critical Access Hospital)
  • Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital - Tyler
  • CHRISTUS Health St. Michael Health System - Texarkana
  • CHRISTUS Health St. Michael Hospital -Atlanta (Critical Access Hospital)
  • CHRISTUS Health St. Michael Rehabilitation Hospital
  • CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic – all Texas locations
  • Trincare Clinical Laboratory – all Texas locations

CHRISTUS Health Southeast Texas:

  • CHRISTUS Health Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Hospital
  • CHRISTUS Health Southeast Texas Jasper Memorial Hospital (Critical Access Hospital)
  • CHRISTUS Health Southeast Texas Orthopedics
  • CHRISTUS Health Southeast Texas Bariatric Center
  • CHRISTUS Health Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Outpatient Pavilion
  • CHRISTUS Health Southeast Texas St. Mary Outpatient Center Mid County
  • CHRISTUS Health Southeast Texas Hospital Orange
  • CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic – all Texas locations
  • Trincare Clinical Laboratory – all Texas locations

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care System:

  • CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital Alamo Heights
  • CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital Westover Hills
  • CHRISTUS Children’s Hospital
  • CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital San Marcos
  • CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital New Braunfels
  • CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Rehabilitation Services New Braunfels
  • CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Outpatient Imaging New Braunfels
  • CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Emergency Center Alon
  • CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Emergency Center Creekside
  • CHRISTUS Surgery Center Olympia Hills
  • CHRISTUS Surgery Center Alamo Heights
  • CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Physician Ambulatory Surgery Center Stone Oak
  • CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Physician Ambulatory Surgery Center New Braunfels
  • CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Physician Ambulatory Surgery Center San Marcos
  • CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic – all Texas locations
  • Trincare Clinical Laboratory – all Texas locations

CHRISTUS Spohn Health System:

  • CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi South
  • CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi Shoreline
  • CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Alice (Critical Access Hospital)
  • CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Beeville (Critical Access Hospital)
  • CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Kleberg (Critical Access Hospital)
  • CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi - CHRISTUS Surgical Hospital
  • CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic – all Texas locations
  • Trincare Clinical Laboratory – all Texas locations
What happens on July 31 for BCBSTX patients if an agreement isn’t reached? 

You will continue receiving the same high-quality and compassionate care on and after July 31 that we provided on July 30, whether in or out of network. We encourage you to review your insurance benefits to ensure you can continue to seek care at a non-network provider under your benefit plan.

If CHRISTUS Health goes out of network with BCBSTX, your out-of-pocket costs could vary significantly. To understand your specific benefits, we encourage you to call BCBSTX customer service at the phone number on the back of your insurance card. In addition, we encourage you to call BCBSTX today to let them know you want CHRISTUS to remain in your network and let your employer or agent know that CHRISTUS is your preferred choice for health care.

If you wish to continue to receive services after July 31 at CHRISTUS Health and your plan has no out-of-network benefits available, we offer several financial options, including but not limited to single case agreements with BCBSTX, cash pay options and payment plans. Please contact our customer service department at 800-422-0490 for additional information.

If your plan has an out-of-network benefit option available, CHRISTUS Health will continue to file your claims to BCBSTX.

If I’m getting chemo treatments at CHRISTUS Health and I’m covered by BCBSTX, what will happen to me if an agreement isn’t reached by July 31? 

BCBSTX should work to facilitate continuity of care in accordance with a member’s insurance benefit plan so that the patient can still be treated at CHRISTUS. We will continue to assist BCBSTX members in getting the appropriate access to care.

I am currently in my last trimester of pregnancy. Will I be able to deliver my baby with my doctor at CHRISTUS if an agreement isn’t reached by July 31? 

Yes, BCBSTX has a continuity of care program, which is considered when a member has special circumstances such as:

  • Acute or disabling conditions,
  • Life-threatening illness, or
  • A high-risk pregnancy, or a pregnancy past the 24th week or beyond (13th week or beyond for HMO members.

According to BCBSTX, this coverage is only applicable to the requested doctor. If you need more information about your specific situation or how the BCBSTX transition process works, please refer to the back of your insurance ID card to reach a BCBSTX representative.

If I’m in a major accident and the ambulance takes me to the ER at a CHRISTUS hospital, will I have to pay out-of-network charges after July 31 if an agreement isn’t reached? 
No. Emergency care is covered at your in-network benefits under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, a federal law that requires anyone coming to an emergency department to be stabilized and treated regardless of their ability to pay.
Which insurance companies offer in-network benefits at CHRISTUS hospitals? 
CHRISTUS participates in many national and local insurance plans, including most other major insurance companies, including Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare, to name a few.
If CHRISTUS Texas facilities receive a reimbursement rate increase from BCBSTX, won’t patients end up paying more? 

Our goal is to negotiate a fair and reasonable increase in our rates for the CHRISTUS system. CHRISTUS Health has proposed increases that we believe are warranted, given the last several years of inflationary trends. For all our facilities, costs have risen substantially while BCBSTX has reported exponential revenue increases year over year. We always have our patients’ best interests in mind, which is why we are negotiating with BCBSTX to remain in network and keep our patients’ out-of-pocket costs as low as possible. We understand health care can be expensive, and we strive to ensure patients receive the highest-quality care at a reasonable rate.

I am interested in enrolling in a CHRISTUS Health Plan Exchange product. How can I do so? 

Please visit the following site to explore our product offerings: https://christus.healthsherpa.com/?_agent_id=christus

I am a small group employer who purchased the BCBSTX Blue Advantage plan and would like to evaluate CHRISTUS Health Plan Exchange as an alternative. Can you tell me more? 
Please visit the following site for a list of agencies who currently offer a CHRISTUS Health Plan Exchange product: https://www.christushealthplan.org/brokers/designated-fmo.
I have a Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage Open Access PPO plan. Will I be impacted? 

No. BCBSTX Medicare Advantage Open Access PPO members can continue to receive care at the same coverage level for covered benefits at CHRISTUS Health.

I have a Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement plan. Will I be impacted? 
No. BCBSTX Medicare Supplement plans will not be impacted by the termination and your current benefit coverage level will remain unchanged.
I have a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan other than BCBSTX. Will I be impacted? 

Yes. This negotiation may impact Blue Cross Blue Shield plans from other states. We recommend you call the number listed on your Blue Cross Blue Shield card for assistance. If you wish to continue to receive services at CHRISTUS Health and your plan has no out-of-network benefits available, we offer several financial options, cash pay options and payment plans. Please contact our customer service department at 800-422-0490 for additional information.

What is the BCBSTX continuity of care program and how do I apply? 

BCBSTX has a continuity of care program, which is considered when a member has special circumstances such as:

  • Acute or disabling conditions,
  • Life-threatening illness, or
  • A high-risk pregnancy, or a pregnancy past the 24th week or beyond (13th week or beyond for HMO members.

You may start the process by completing a continuity of care form found on the BCBSTX website www.bcbstx.com/docs/forms/provider/tx/transitional-care-request-tx.pdf

If you need more information about your specific situation or how the BCBSTX continuity of care process works, please refer to the back of your insurance ID card to reach a BCBSTX representative.

If you are insured by an out-of-state BCBS plan (any plan other than BCBSTX) you will need to call the BCBS customer service number located on the back of your insurance ID card for additional information on requesting continuity of care coverage at CHRISTUS Health.