HEALTH ADVOCATES ARE RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER SIOUX CITY’S LARGEST HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WILL CONTINUE TO ACCEPT SOME INSURANCE PLANS.
UNITYPOINT HEALTH TOOK OVER MERCYONE IN SIOUX CITY ON SEPTEMBER 1ST.
AS PART OF THE DEAL, THEY AGREED TO ACCEPT INSURANCE PLANS USED BY MERCYONE PATIENTS THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.
UNITYPOINT SAYS THEY ARE WORKING WITH SEVERAL INSURERS TO EXTEND TEMPORARY AGREEMENTS THROUGH MARCH 31, 2026 THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE TO ALLOW UNITYPOINT HEALTH TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CARE FOR ITS PATIENTS.
PATIENTS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR INSURANCE CARRIER DIRECTLY TO CONFIRM THEIR PLAN WILL BE IN-NETWORK WITH UNITYPOINT HEALTH DURING THIS TIME.
SHANNON STEWART, AN INSURANCE BROKER FROM SIOUX CITY, SAYS IT WOULD BE DISRUPTIVE IF HIS CLIENTS LOSE COVERAGE:
STEWART OC….AGAINST ANYONE. :09……
STEWART SAYS SOME OF THE IMPACTED INSURANCE PLANS WERE MORE AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOUND THROUGH THE FEDERAL MARKETPLACE.
PATIENTS SHOULD REVIEW THEIR INSURANCE OPTIONS DURING THE FEDERAL HEALTH EXCHANGE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD, WHICH ENDS JANUARY 15 TO CHOOSE A PLAN THAT ENSURES THEY CAN CONTINUE RECEIVING CARE AT A UNITYPOINT HEALTH FACILITY THROUGHOUT 2026.
Sheila Brummer contributed to this story
