Lowering Healthcare Cost Trends in San Diego

This is About How Much More You'll Pay for Healthcare

Scripps Health’s 15-20% annual price increases would be about four times higher than wage growth or the general inflation rate. That means higher copayments, deductibles, and insurance premiums.

We are asking Scripps Health to align their price increases with benchmarks such as general inflation and wage growth for San Diego workers.

We’re also concerned that Scripps Health executives want to strip away industry standard claim reviews that protect patients and employers from overbilling. Exempting Scripps Health could lead to incorrect or inflated bills for care.

Our Current Negotiation with Scripps Health

Our current agreement with Scripps Health to keep them in our network ends effective October 1, 2026. This agreement sets the prices Scripps Health charges to Anthem members.

We continue to work with Scripps Health to reach a new agreement. We know you value your relationship with your care provider, and we want Scripps Health in our network. But if we can’t reach a new agreement that keeps healthcare affordable for our members, Scripps Health will leave our network on October 1, 2026.

Our Proposal: Fair Payment Increases for Scripps Health, Lower Costs for Our Members

To keep care accessible for our members, we have offered Scripps Health payment increases that:

• Align with wage growth for Southern Californians
• Line up with increases in place other similar California hospitals
• Bring down costs for ER visits
• Pay Scripps Health fairly

We have also proposed quality-based incentives that would allow Scripps Health to earn millions more by improving patient care outcomes.

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.

We Want to Keep Scripps Health in Our Network

So far, Scripps Health executives have not accepted our proposals. We continue to work toward a new agreement, and we hope to reach one before any care disruption for our members.

If Scripps Health chooses to leave our network, we'll be here to help every step of the way:

• We will work directly with members receiving treatment for serious or complex conditions to help them continue care with their current provider until they finish treatment.
• Anthem members will still have access to a broad care provider network, including every other major health system in Southern California. Our teams will assist members in transitioning to another in-network care provider.

Why We're Fighting for Lower Healthcare Costs

Healthcare costs are already putting immense pressure on families and employers.

• Nearly half of U.S. adults struggle to afford healthcare, and 1 in 4 delay necessary care due to cost (KFF).
• Employers face the same challenge. More than 75% of California employers pay healthcare claims directly—so a sudden jump in hospital costs would drastically and directly increase expenses for small and large employers. That can limit wage growth, hiring, and investment.

That’s why we’re working hard to secure reasonable price increases at Scripps Health—to keep care accessible for our members and sustainable for employers.