Our Commitment to Patients

At Ascension Texas, we're focused on serving our communities and extending our mission to care for all, by providing the highest quality and most compassionate care for the patients we're privileged to serve. We regularly negotiate with insurance companies to ensure fair contracts that support the sustainability of our care and our people. Our current contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) expires on January 1, 2026.

We are currently in discussions with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) to reach a new fair and sustainable agreement that reflects today’s healthcare realities — including historic inflation, rising medication prices and increased costs for life-saving equipment and supplies.

What This Means for Patients

If Ascension Texas and BCBSTX do not reach a new agreement by January 1, 2026, most Ascension Texas hospitals, clinics, and employed doctors will become out-of-network for patients with:

  • BCBSTX Medicare Advantage
  • BCBSTX Exchange (ACA)
  • BCBSTX Commercial insurance plans

Key Points

  • Emergency care remains covered — regardless of your insurance network status.
  • Non-emergency care may be subject to higher out-of-network costs (copays and deductibles) or may not be covered.
  • Patients in active treatment may qualify for temporary in-network coverage under continuity of care laws.

Why This Is Happening

Ascension Texas doctors, nurses, and associates continue to provide exceptional care through unprecedented challenges — even as healthcare costs have soared.

Meanwhile, insurers like BCBSTX have reported record profits. We are simply asking for competitive, sustainable reimbursement rates that support delivering the level of care our patients deserve.

What’s Next

As of now, nothing has changed for BCBSTX members. You can continue to see your Ascension Texas doctors and visit our hospitals and clinics as usual. We remain committed to negotiating what we believe is a fair and reasonable agreement with BCBSTX to prevent any disruption to your care.

What You Can Do

1. Contact BCBSTX

Call the number on the back of your BCBSTX insurance card. Let them know you want Ascension Texas to remain in-network.

2. Talk to Your Employer

If you have BCBSTX coverage through your job, speak with your HR department. Let them know how important it is for you and your family to keep access to Ascension Texas providers.

3. Review Your Coverage Options

  • Medicare Advantage Members:
    During the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (now through December 7), review your options. You may choose a plan that keeps Ascension Texas in-network, such as:
    • Humana Medicare Advantage
    • Provider Partners Health Plan Medicare Advantage
    • Texas Independence Health Plan Medicare Advantage
    • UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
    • Wellpoint (Austin only)
    • Baylor Scott and White Medicare Advantage (Waco only)
  • ACA/Exchange Members:
    During Open Enrollment (now through January 15), explore other ACA plans that include Ascension Texas in-network, such as: 
    • Ambetter Health Premier
    • Ambetter Health TXSMP
    • Ambetter Solutions
    • Oscar EPO (Austin only)
    • Sendero Idealcare (Austin only)

Our Promise

We are committed to continuing these discussions in good faith and ensuring that patients remain at the center of every decision.

Thank you for trusting Ascension Texas with your care.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What does contract termination mean for my employees/organization/constituents?

    This means Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas’s Commercial, Exchange and Medicare Advantage members could be considered out-of-network for non-emergent care at Ascension Texas facilities and patients may no longer have in-network coverage to their trusted Ascension Texas employed doctors and nurses, which could result in higher out-of-pocket costs.

    Without a new agreement, our current contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) will end on January 1, 2026. As a result, most Ascension Texas hospitals, clinics, and outpatient facilities would be out-of-network for BCBSTX members seeking non-emergent care.

  • What happens if an agreement cannot be reached by January 1, 2026 and I or a dependent is in the middle of a course of treatment (e.g., pregnancy, radiation therapy, etc.)?

    Certain conditions may be eligible for Continuity of Care which would provide approved patients the opportunity to continue seeing their current care team at in-network rates for a certain period, even if Ascension Texas is out of network with BCBSTX. Patients must apply for Continuity of Care through BCBSTX, and they will review and approve or deny those applications on a case-by-case basis. 

  • How will this impact access to emergency care in the area? 

    Emergency care is available regardless of insurance plans. Community members will still have access to emergency services across Ascension Texas sites of care.

  • What other insurance companies is Ascension Texas in network with?

    Ascension Texas participates with all major insurance companies, such as Aetna and Humana, but always confirm with your provider’s office for the most updated information.

  • What can I do to help keep my coverage to Ascension Texas care facilities and providers?

    Please let BCBSTX know that you want Ascension Texas to remain in your network of medical care providers by calling BCBSTX Customer Service at the phone number on your member identification card.

  • How quickly do you think this can get resolved?

    We would like this resolved before January 1, 2026, which is the end of the current contract. We are working diligently to agree on competitive and sustainable terms so none of our patients are negatively impacted or experience a potential disruption in care. It is important to us that our patients maintain their ability to have in-network coverage with the Ascension Texas providers they trust.

  • If the contract is terminated, is there any indication that discussions will continue and that an agreement could occur at a later date?

    Ascension Texas is a compassionate and committed healthcare provider and our priority is to avoid a termination with BCBSTX. We are attempting to negotiate appropriate reimbursement and contract terms and will be open to doing so in the future.

  • Does this impact Medicare and Medicaid members?

    This contract does not impact Medicaid members, however, there is a possibility that Medicare Advantage members will no longer have in-network access to Ascension Texas hospitals, clinics and outpatient facilities, beginning January 1, 2026, if an agreement with BCBSTX is not reached before that date.

  • What if a constituent/patient doesn’t have access to an alternate participating provider or a particular service is not available?

    This is the type of situation we want to avoid and that’s why it is so important that we come to an appropriate agreement. Should BCBSTX not accept new terms, their members could lose in-network benefits to low-cost, quality care available at Ascension Texas facilities, effective January 1, 2026.


    We encourage patients to learn more details about the impact to their coverage, express concerns, and share how important it is to resolve this issue quickly and reasonably by calling the phone number on the back of their BCBSTX insurance card. 

  • What about Ascension Living? Will I/my family member lose access if we have BCBSTX?

    No. The contract termination does not include Ascension Living..

  • Can I get an appointment moved to an earlier date before I lose in-network coverage?

    Please contact your site of care directly to see if an earlier appointment is available.