Lowering Healthcare Cost Trends in San Diego

Here's What's Happening

This is About How Much You'll Pay for Healthcare

Scripps is already the most expensive health system in San Diego. Its executives charge people covered through employers, on average, 10 times more than Medicare. Scripps Health’s emergency room prices are especially high - more than 220% higher than the state average. These high prices place an extraordinary burden on patients and their employers.

Our Current Negotiation with Scripps Health

Scripps remains in-network today, and nothing changes right now. We’re working hard to reach a new agreement to keep them in our network and remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached. But if we can’t reach a new agreement, Scripps will no longer be part of our local network on October 1, 2026.

We’ll Help Our Members Every Step of the Way

If Scripps executives choose to leave our network, we will make sure our members have access to the care they need. That starts with our members currently in treatment at Scripps Health. Anthem members currently in treatment for serious and complex medical conditions like cancer treatment, pregnancy, and others, will be able to continue their care with their Scripps Health doctor. If it becomes necessary, we will proactively reach out to patients under care for qualifying medical conditions to provide more information about our Continuity of Care process.

It’s also important to note that every other major health system in Southern California participates in our network. This includes UC San Diego, Sharp Healthcare, Palomar Health, Rady Children’s Hospital, and more. If Scripps Health exits our network, we are ready to assist our members in finding alternative, in-network doctors and hospitals.

We Want to Keep Scripps in Our Network

• We cannot and will not agree to contract terms that expose patients and their employers to erroneous or excessive charges. 
• We are fully committed to reaching an agreement that preserves access to high-quality care while lowering healthcare cost trends.
  
  

Why We're Fighting for Lower Healthcare Costs

Californians cannot afford healthcare costs that continue to rise faster than wages and inflation. Our talks with Scripps Health have a direct impact on our members and employers in the San Diego area.

• For members and families: Higher out-of-pocket costs, higher premiums and larger paycheck contributions. Higher costs can create real barriers to care and could force some consumers to delay or skip necessary treatment, often with serious health consequences.
• For employers: About 80% of Anthem members who use Scripps are on self-insured health plans, meaning their employers directly pay hospital bills for employees and families. These increases can affect business sustainability, wages, and hiring. 

One of our most important responsibilities is removing financial barriers by moderating healthcare cost trends. That is why we negotiate collaboratively with care providers on behalf of our members and their employers.