Aetna and RWJBarnabas Health are locked in a contract battle that could force thousands of New Jerseyans to search for another doctor or hospital after their current agreement ends April 22.
The insurance company notified its 45,000 members that the hospital network is seeking significant rate increases.
“It’s Aetna’s objective to negotiate contracts that are not only competitive, but also reasonable to our customers, members and the hospital,” an Aetna spokesperson said. “We remain hopeful that we will be able to reach an agreement with RWJBarnabas on a new contract.”
The dispute would have the biggest impact on consumers who use RWJBarnabus facilities, including New Jersey Imaging Network (NJIN) with locations in Hackensack, Rutherford and Englewood Cliffs; Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville; and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark.
It’s not the first time. Aetna and what was then Barnabas Health had a standoff in 2015 before reaching a last-minute agreement.
Aetna doesn’t participate in New Jersey’s Obamacare marketplace, where individuals not covered by Medicaid, Medicare or their employer can buy insurance.
But Medicare requires companies that administer its Medicare Advantage plans to provide customers with written notice of a stalemate 30 days before the contract ends. Consumers in the middle of treatment can usually work with an insurance plan’s case manager to continue their course of treatment.
But the process can fray consumers’ nerves. They can only switch insurance carriers when Medicare’s open enrollment begins in the fall.
“RWJBarnabas Health and Aetna continue to negotiate with the desire to create a new contractual agreement,” RWJBarnabas said in a statement. “It is our goal and expectation that a new agreement will be reached with Aetna before our current contract expires on April 22. Aetna patients can still receive services at all RWJBarnabas Health facilities as contract negotiations continue.”
Date:April 01, 2017