FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — On Thursday, Fresno Unified leaders formally announced a breakthrough for district retirees on Aetna health insurance.<\/p>\n
“Community Medical Centers has agreed to an extension of access for retirees,” Superintendent Misty Her said.<\/p>\n
The temporary coverage at Community Medical Centers for thousands of retirees who lost in-network access on January 1 will include visits to their doctors and prescription refills through February 20.<\/p>\n
The expiration is 36 days away, and Aetna and Community remain at an impasse. They are unable to agree on new rates for lasting in-network coverage.<\/p>\n
Retirees like Emily Brandt, who taught English at Bullard High for 22 years, are now caught in the middle.<\/p>\n
“Every person is struggling with this the way I am struggling,” she told Action News. “I may look fine, but I don’t feel fine.”<\/p>\n
Brandt has a rare form of cancer that affects three in a million people. She received notice that her appointments at Community facilities this week got canceled.<\/p>\n
Now, Brandt is taking the extraordinary step of traveling across the country for treatment.<\/p>\n
“I’m going to Boston and hoping to get a treatment there,” she said. “They will accept our insurance at Dana-Farber, but Community doesn’t.”<\/p>\n
On Thursday, the district also announced a new plan retirees can select for coverage in 2027. Leaders say it is similar to the self-funded plan they switched away from years ago.<\/p>\n
We pressed them about that move.<\/p>\n
“Was it a mistake to switch away from the self-funded option in 2023?” Action News asked.<\/p>\n
“I will answer that question directly,” Fresno Teachers Association President Manuel Bonilla said. “This can and has happened if you do a very quick Google search. This is a contract dispute between a network provider and a medical service provider.”<\/p>\n
With the Aetna and Community continuing to negotiate, Brendt is now left hoping for a solution.<\/p>\n
“Who do you want to speak to directly? Is it FTA? Is it FUSD? Is it Community? Is it Aetna? Who do you want to hear your message?” Action News asked.<\/p>\n
“I would like (to hear) from Community and from Aetna to see, exactly, the numbers,” she said. “I’d like to know what are they charging?”<\/p>\n
For news updates, follow Gabe Ferris on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram.<\/a><\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n