When hospitals and insurers fight, patients get caught in the middle
Summary
Hospitals and insurance companies sometimes let their contracts expire, leaving patients unsure about coverage for care. A family in Missouri struggled to confirm insurance coverage because of a contract disagreement between their hospital and insurer. Contract disputes like this are happening more often and leave many patients in tough situations.Key Facts
- Hospitals and insurers sometimes have disagreements over contracts that affect coverage.
- A couple in Missouri struggled for weeks to ensure coverage for post-surgery care during a contract dispute.
- 90,000 patients in Missouri were affected when a hospital system and insurer failed to renew their contract.
- Similar issues occurred in New York City and North Carolina, affecting patient coverage.
- From June 2021 to May 2025, 18% of non-federal hospitals had issues with insurers over contracts, according to a researcher.
- Rising healthcare costs and hospital consolidations are contributing to more disputes.
- Some patients face higher costs or have to delay care during these contract disagreements.
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