Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

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

Pending Termination Effective July 1, 2025

 

CHRISTUS Health hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and physician clinics in Texas have accepted BCBSTX insurance for decades, and we fully intend to continue. However, if we cannot reach an agreement by July 1, BCBSTX customers will no longer have in-network insurance coverage at CHRISTUS Health Texas locations. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section below for more information regarding specific termination information by benefit plan.

We have been negotiating with BCBSTX for months to secure a reasonable insurance reimbursement rate for our health services. BCBSTX’s responses have been unfavorable thus far. However, we will continue to communicate with BCBSTX in hopes of finalizing an agreement.

CHRISTUS Health is working hard to keep health care costs affordable for all while continuing to provide high-quality and compassionate services to our patients and their families. We encourage patients to call the BCBSTX customer service number located on their insurance card to let them know how important it is for CHRISTUS Health hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and physician clinics to remain in network so that they have access to the entire provider network and benefits as a BCBSTX member.

Our emergency departments will always be available, even if we go out of network with BCBSTX on July 1, and we will do all we can to ensure that patients get the affordable, quality care they need and deserve. In a recent communication issued by BCBSTX they indicated that CHRISTUS Health may not submit patient insurance claims to BCBSTX after June 30. To clarify, CHRISTUS Health will continue to file your insurance claims to BCBSTX on your behalf. For more information, refer to the FAQ section below.

Patients should continue to check our website for updates. Now more than ever, our communities need a trusted health care partner. CHRISTUS Health is truly honored to serve our patients and we thank our communities for putting trust in us.

FAQ

Which BCBSTX plans will be impacted by the termination? 
  • Blue Advantage HMO (BAV) – effective 7/1/2025
  • Blue Choice PPO – effective 7/1/2025
  • Blue Essentials HMO – effective 7/1/2025
  • Blue Cross Medicare Advantage HMO – effective 7/1/2025
  • Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO – effective 7/1/2025
  • Medicaid – effective 7/1/2025
  • FEP Blue Standard, FEP Blue Basic, FEP Blue Focus – effective 7/1/2025
  • ParPlan – effective 7/21/2025
Which CHRISTUS Health hospitals, physician clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers will be impacted by the 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
  • CHRISTUS Health Mother Frances Hospital - South Tyler
  • CHRISTUS Health Mother Frances Hospital - Sulphur Springs
  • CHRISTUS Health Mother Frances Hospital - Tyler
  • CHRISTUS Health Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
  • Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital - Tyler
  • CHRISTUS Health St. Michael Health System - Texarkana
  • CHRISTUS Health St. Michael Hospital -Atlanta
  • CHRISTUS Health St. Michael Rehabilitation Hospital
  • CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic – all Texas locations

     

    CHRISTUS Health Southeast Texas:

  • CHRISTUS Health Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Hospital
  • CHRISTUS Health Southeast Texas Jasper Memorial 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

 

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care System:

  • CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital Medical Center
  • 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

 

CHRISTUS Spohn Health System:

  • CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi South
  • CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi Shoreline
  • CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Alice
  • CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Beeville
  • CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Kleberg
  • CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi - CHRISTUS Surgical Hospital
  • CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic – all Texas locations
  • Trincare Clinical Loaboratory - all Texas locations
Why did I receive a letter in the mail from CHRISTUS? 
CHRISTUS is legally obligated to notify patients of any potential changes to their health insurance coverage when one of our contracts is set to end.
What happens on July 1, 2025, for BCBSTX patients? 

You will continue receiving the same high-quality and compassionate care on July 1 that we provided on June 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 we are 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 to keep CHRISTUS 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 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.

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? 
First, we’re committed to your health and reaching an agreement with BCBSTX. Should we be unable to reach an agreement, we expect BCBSTX will 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? 

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
  • 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? 
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.
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 to our rates for the CHRISTUS system. It is challenging to apply this current negotiation to specific examples without knowing each patient’s particular benefits. We always have our patients’ best interests in mind. We understand health care can be expensive, and we strive to ensure patients receive the highest-quality care at a reasonable rate.