In 2026, Independent Health’s Individual Medicare Advantage plan won’t consider Roswell Park as in-network.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Starting January 1, if you have Independent Health’s Individual Medicare Advantage plan, Roswell Park will no longer be considered in-network.
Patients will face high out-of-pocket costs if they decide to continue receiving care at Roswell Park. Over 5,500 patients will be affected by this change.
Dr. Candace Johnson, CEO of Roswell Park, told Two On Your Side’s Claudine Ewing that it was just a few months ago when they learned, “patients would be moved to a tier requiring significant out-of-pocket costs. There were no real negotiations, we were just told this was happening.”
In statement, Independent Health said, “We had been working with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center on a new agreement for Roswell Park and its community network practices to continue as participating providers in our individual Medicare Advantage plans for 2026. Unfortunately, despite extensive negotiations, Roswell Park chose not to participate in our individual Medicare Advantage plans starting January 1, 2026.”
“There were no extensive negotiations around this point. We were told this is the way it was,” according to Dr. Johnson.
“This wasn’t fair. We’re not going to abandon our patients. We’ve set up a hotline — 1-800-ROSWELL — to help guide patients through this change,” said Dr. Johnson.
If this decision impacts you, call Roswell’s hotline: 1-800-ROSWELL.
Click here to learn about other options to ensure continued care access.