Thousands of Houston-area patients with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) insurance may soon need to double-check whether their health plan will cover care at Memorial Hermann facilities, as negotiations continue on a new contract with a looming deadline.
If the two sides can’t reach an agreement by the end of Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Memorial Hermann hospitals, facilities and affiliated providers could become out-of-network for certain BCBSTX plans.
What “out-of-network” could mean for patients
If Memorial Hermann becomes out-of-network, patients could see:
Higher co-pays
Higher deductible costs
Unexpected medical bills, depending on the plan’s rules and benefits
It could also disrupt continuity of care, especially for people who are:
In the middle of treatment
Pregnant
Managing a disability, acute condition, or life-threatening illness
Scheduled for an upcoming procedure
In those situations, patients may have to determine whether they can keep their current doctor and location of care or move to another provider that remains in-network.
A similar situation unfolded in 2022, when the contract expired at the end of February. Negotiations continued after that deadline, and the organizations later announced a four-year agreement that restored in-network access for patients.
What you can do right now
Patients don’t have to wait until they’re at a doctor’s office to find out what their coverage will be.
Here are immediate steps to take:
Call the number on the back of your insurance ID card and ask what your options are if Memorial Hermann becomes out-of-network.
If you’re pregnant or have a disability, acute condition, or life-threatening illness, ask about “continuity of care.”
You may qualify to keep receiving care at in-network rates for a limited time, but you typically must apply.
Check your plan’s provider directory to confirm which Memorial Hermann locations and doctors are covered under your specific plan.
If you have appointments coming up, call your doctor’s office and ask what they recommend if the network status changes.
Memorial Hermann released the following statement regarding the situation:
“Despite nearly eight months of our best efforts to negotiate fair and reasonable terms, we have yet to reach an agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. This comes as little surprise, given Blue Cross Blue Shield’s national and statewide playbook of asking for unreasonable demands while dragging out negotiations to the last minute. This approach ignores the financial realities facing health systems and health care providers today, jeopardizes continuity of care and creates unnecessary anxiety for the patients and families who depend on us for their care. We remain committed to serving the Greater Houston community and urge Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas to negotiate a good faith proposal that values patients, respects caregivers and preserves their members’ access to care.”
Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.