Keeping Healthcare Affordable in Maine

Important Information for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Members About Our Negotiations with Northern Light Health

 

We’re working to improve access to affordable healthcare in Maine. Our contract with Northern Light Health non-hospital facilities and care providers expires at the end of October for employer-sponsored and individual members,  and at the end of December for Medicare Advantage members. The contract with Northern Light Health hospitals expires at the end of the year. We are negotiating in good faith to keep Northern Light Health in our network. 

 

OCTOBER 1 UPDATE
Anthem and Northern Light Health have agreed to extend our current agreement through October 31, 2025. This means all Northern Light doctors and hospitals will remain in your network while we continue working toward a long-term agreement. During this time, you can continue receiving care at Northern Light Health with full in-network benefits.

Here's What's Happening

 

 

When Our Contract Expires

 

Anthem’s network contracts with Northern Light Health will expire later this year, see below for specific dates. These contracts set the prices Northern Light Health charges to its patients who have Anthem employer-based, individual, and Medicare Advantage health plans. Our goal is to improve healthcare affordability for the patients, employers, and taxpayers who pay for care.

If we are unable to reach a new agreement:

  • All Northern Light doctors, specialists, other professionals, outpatient clinics, and other non-hospital facilities will exit Anthem’s network for employer-sponsored and individual health plans on October 31, 2025. This includes hospital-based physicians.
  • Northern Light hospitals will exit Anthem’s network for employer-sponsored and individual health plans on December 31, 2025.
  • All Northern Light facilities and professionals will exit Anthem’s network for Medicare Advantage health plans on December 31, 2025.

 

Our Commitment to Affordability

 

Anthem is dedicated to improving access to high-quality, affordable healthcare for all Mainers. Here’s why:

  • According to KFF surveys, about half of U.S. adults say it’s difficult to afford healthcare costs and, alarmingly, one in four adults delays needed care because of high costs. Hospital price increases raise patient costs through higher copayments, deductibles, and insurance premiums.
  • Employers are also affected; higher hospital prices lead to higher insurance premiums, and many Maine employers pay their employees’ healthcare claims directly – so high healthcare costs disadvantage them compared to other states. These costs can limit wages, hiring, investment, and growth.

We negotiate on behalf of our members and Maine employers to secure affordable care at Northern Light Health and all our provider partners.

 

 

Our Proposal: Fair Payment for Northern Light Health, Affordable Care for Our Members

 

We’ve asked Northern Light Health to lower its price increases to match those of other Maine health systems. Our offers include payment increases that are higher than the inflation rate and improve affordability for our members. We also propose incentives that offer Northern Light Health the opportunity to earn millions more by delivering high quality care.

Together, our offered rates would significantly moderate cost trends for Northern Light Health’s patients and their employers, while still fairly compensating Northern Light Health for the services it delivers and encouraging better health outcomes.

 

 

Commitment to Keeping Northern Light Health in Our Networks

 

Anthem and Northern Light Health continue to work toward a new, long-term agreement. We want Northern Light Health to remain in our network, and we’re hopeful we will reach a new agreement soon.

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