Saint Francis adds big insurer to its network

A new agreement between Saint Francis Medical Center and the insurance company UnitedHealthcare could mean thousands of people in the region may save some dollars and gain access to more providers.

Saint Francis on Tuesday announced it has been added to UnitedHealthcare's network of providers on a limited basis.

UnitedHealthcare is one of the most widely used health insurers in Missouri, and its plans are contracted by area employers large and small, as well as individuals.

When insurance plan participants use an in-network provider versus an out-of-network provider, they generally will have more of their medical bill covered by insurance, dependent on contracted amounts for services agreed upon by the providers and insurance companies.

The agreement does not include all UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored and individual plans -- the expanded in-network coverage, according to a news release from Saint Francis, is only for UnitedHealthcare's Choice POS, or Point-Of-Service, and Options PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization.

Medical center administration Tuesday said the agreement will allow Saint Francis to serve a new group of patients.

"Saint Francis is committed to ensuring our patients have a choice for their health-care providers," said the medical center's president and CEO, Steven Bjelich, in the release.

Saint Francis spokeswoman Emily Blattel said in an email to the Southeast Missourian the new agreement makes all Saint Francis Medical Partners, which are practices owned by the Saint Francis Healthcare System, in-network for UnitedHealthcare plan participants, in addition to services rendered at the hospital. The system has numerous physician practices and other medical facilities throughout the region under its umbrella.

A full list of the medical partners is available on the medical center's website, sfmc.net/medical-partners.

UnitedHealthcare plan participants also can go online to myuhc.com or call the customer service number on the back of their insurance ID card to verify in-network access to providers, according to the release.

In recent years, Saint Francis has at times needed to take steps, such as offering reimbursements to patients for plan buy-ups, to ensure patients can continue using its physicians and other medical care services for a reasonable price when employers have opted for coverage from insurance companies that do not include the medical center as an in-network provider.

SoutheastHEALTH also is an in-network provider for UnitedHealthcare.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632