In 2025, Prime Healthcare, a for-profit medical group, purchased eight Illinois hospitals from Ascension, including St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet<\/a>, Mercy Hospital in Aurora<\/a> and St. Mary Medical Center in Kankakee<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Thursday, Prime Healthcare told Shaw Local that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois had reached an agreement for all eight of their hospitals in Illinois.<\/p>\n Prime Healthcare has been in network with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, and they will remain in network after June 1.<\/p>\n Patients will not experience any \u201cinterruption to access or increase in their cost of care,\u201d according to Prime Healthcare officials.<\/p>\n Tori Dameron, president of the Illinois Nurses Association, called the news a \u201crelief for Blue Cross patients in Illinois.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEspecially in light of the lawsuit Anthem [Blue Cross Blue Shield] has brought against Prime alleging the company intentionally cancelled insurance contracts, raised prices and then aggressively pursued out-of-network claims at its California hospitals,\u201d Dameron said.<\/p>\n Dameron said there must continue to be demands for \u201ctransparency and accountability until Prime safely staffs its hospitals, stops cutting services and ensures patients come before profits.\u201d<\/p>\n Prime Healthcare purchased St. Mary\u2019s Hospital in Kankakee in 2025. <\/p>\n The Illinois Nurses Association expressed concerns about patients losing insurance coverage<\/a> on Monday. <\/p>\n In response, Prime Healthcare officials said negotiations with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois had been \u201congoing.\u201d They said a letter from the insurer to their customers \u201cmay create unnecessary concern for patients\u201d during negotiations.<\/p>\n Prime Healthcare officials said Blue Cross Blue Shield has committed to communicating the change with customers who were sent notifications about the June 1 cut off. <\/p>\n The company \u201cremains contracted with all major health plans\u201d in Illinois and they are \u201ccommitted to continuing to work in good faith\u201d with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois to protect \u201cpatient access and support the long-term sustainability of hospitals,\u201c according to a Prime Healthcare spokesperson.<\/p>\n Blue Cross Blue Shield spokeswoman Tricia Ament said Prime Healthcare had previously notified them of their \u201cplans to leave our networks\u201d on June 1.<\/p>\n \u201cThose plans have changed, and we are pleased to let you know that Prime has confirmed that they will stay in network,\u201d Ament said.<\/p>\n Blue Cross Blue Shield members can find more information about how to find in-network care at bcbsil.com<\/a> or by calling the number on their member ID card. <\/p>\n![\"St.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TBIQDDX47FDL3OFW2V3TG3NH2A.jpg\")
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