Original post: April 4, 2023; Updated: June 9, 2023
Premera Blue Cross and UW Medicine reached a new multi-year agreement, effective July 1, 2023, which allows UW Medicine to continue as an in-network provider for Premera members.
The agreement ensures that there is no disruption for Premera members who receive care at UW Medicine. This applies to all lines of business, including commercial, Premera Blue Cross individual, UW student insurance, and Medicare Advantage.
Premera and UW Medicine started negotiations several months ago with a mutual goal of reaching an agreement that balances fair compensation for the healthcare system and continued access to high-quality, affordable care for UW Medicine patients and Premera members.
As we’ve always said, these negotiations are not about Premera; they are about our customers. We serve as their advocate during these discussions as we work with provider partners on practical solutions to keep healthcare affordable and accessible.
We’re grateful for the patience of our customers as we worked hard with the team at UW Medicine to reach an agreement. We look forward to continuing to partner with UW Medicine on solutions that improve access to the innovative, high-quality care they are known for.
To find more information about providers in your network, you can use our Find a Doctor tool or call the phone number on the back of your member ID card.
What does this new contract mean for me? Does this mean I won’t need to find a new doctor or pay out-of-network prices?
Your in-network access to medical care from UW Medicine and its affiliated facilities will continue uninterrupted.
I changed my provider away from UW Medicine. Can I change back?
You can keep your new provider or change back to your UW Medicine provider. The choice is yours.
What if my health plan is from another Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, and not Premera?
Since Premera holds the contract with UW Medicine, this ensures other Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) plans that offer BlueCard also retain in-network access. Many BCBS plans offer coverage through BlueCard, a nationwide network that uses the local BCBS health plan for access to in-network providers. You can tell if you have BlueCard coverage by looking for the small PPO suitcase icon on your member ID card.
What can you tell me about the terms of the contract?
While the specific terms of the contract are confidential, the new agreement represents our shared commitment to making healthcare work better and balances fair compensation for the healthcare system with continued access to high-quality, affordable care for UW Medicine patients and Premera members.
