What’s going on with Florida Blue?
BayCare is proud to be part of the communities we serve throughout West Central Florida. For several months, we have been working in good faith with Florida Blue to establish a new, fair network agreement that will protect patients’ ability to continue choosing BayCare physicians, hospitals and other facilities and services for their care.
We’re asking Florida Blue to be a true partner in creating sustainable health care for our patients and the communities we serve. Florida Blue is proposing reimbursement rates that do not keep up with the rising costs of clinical care and would hurt our ability to attract and retain high-quality caregivers, invest in needed services and technology and continue delivering the high-quality care West Central Florida deserves. Unfortunately, despite our repeated good faith efforts to reach a fair and reasonable agreement, we have not yet done so, creating the very real possibility that BayCare may be removed from the Florida Blue network.
If we cannot reach agreement, BayCare physicians and facilities will be removed from the Florida Blue network beginning October 1, 2025. This would impact patients with Florida Blue health plans as well as other Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. Losing access to BayCare has the potential to be a real hardship for patients, forcing them to find new physicians and health care facilities and potentially travel farther for in-network care.
We strongly desire to remain in the Florida Blue network. In order to do that, we need Florida Blue to step up alongside us through a fair contract that reflects our patients' and communities’ unique health care needs and today’s economic environment.
BayCare’s Goals:
- Protect patients’ ability to choose and access the high-quality care offered by BayCare physicians, hospitals and other facilities and services.
- Help patients quickly access the level of care they need.
- Avoid disruption for patients insured through Florida Blue.
- Continue delivering on our mission to provide high-quality care now and in the future.
Florida Blue’s Position:
- Proposing reimbursement rates that do not keep up with the rising costs of clinical care and would hurt our ability to attract and retain high-quality caregivers, invest in needed services and technology and continue delivering the high-quality care West Central Florida deserves. Patients are paying higher Florida Blue premiums, but those increases are not proportionately shared with health care providers like BayCare and subsequently the doctors and nurses who directly care for patients.
- Unfortunately, BayCare’s experience with Florida Blue is not unique. Florida Blue has created hardship for patients by removing health systems from its network or threatening to do so as a result of failed negotiations.
What You Can Do Today
- Nothing changes today. Keep all your scheduled appointments and procedures with BayCare, and don’t delay routine health screenings, procedures or tests important to your health.
- Call Florida Blue at the number on the back of your insurance card and let them know you want to keep access to BayCare physicians and facilities you know and trust.
- If you receive your insurance through your employer, talk to your Human Resources or Benefits Department and urge them to contact Florida Blue.
- BayCare will keep you informed throughout the process. If Florida Blue does not agree to a new, fair agreement, we’ll let you know.
- For any other questions, call BayCare at 813-443-8070.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is happening between BayCare and Florida Blue?
Over the last several months, we have been working with Florida Blue to reach a new, responsible contract agreement. Our goal in reaching a new agreement with Florida Blue is to protect patients’ ability to choose the high-quality care offered by BayCare physicians, hospitals and other facilities and services. If we are unable to reach a new agreement with Florida Blue, BayCare’s physicians, facilities and services will no longer be included in Florida Blue’s network beginning Oct. 1, 2025.
Unfortunately, BayCare’s experience with Florida Blue is not unique. Florida Blue has created hardship for patients by removing health systems from its network or threatening to do so as a result of failed negotiations.
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Why is BayCare working on a new agreement with Florida Blue?Our agreement with Florida Blue is approaching the renewal date that requires we negotiate a new contract. Our negotiations are a standard part of business when our previously agreed-upon contracts are up for renewal. We are taking the necessary steps to ensure BayCare is best positioned to continue providing high-quality care for decades to come. Right now, that means modernizing our insurance contract with Florida Blue to account for recent shifts in the health care landscape and the health care realities in our state.
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What happens if no agreement is reached?If an agreement is not reached, Florida Blue will no longer consider BayCare physicians, facilities and services as part of its network. This has the potential to be a real hardship for patients, forcing them to find new physicians and potentially to travel farther to find in-network care.
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Which insurance plans would be affected by a network termination?If Florida Blue removes BayCare from its network, the termination would affect patients with a Florida Blue plan or an affiliated Blue Cross Blue Shield plan in three categories: insurance provided through employers; insurance obtained through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace; and Medicare Advantage plans.
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When would Florida Blue consider BayCare services and facilities out-of-network?If Florida Blue is unwilling to work with BayCare on a new agreement, our current agreement ends at end of day on Sept. 30, 2025. Should that happen, BayCare will be considered out-of-network starting on Oct. 1, 2025.
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Will patients still be able to receive care from BayCare if a new agreement is not reached?If a new agreement is not reached, patients will lose in-network access to BayCare. This means while patients could still receive services from BayCare, Florida Blue might make patients responsible for a significantly greater portion of the cost of their care. Emergency care is always covered as in network. Patients undergoing active courses of treatment may qualify for Continuity of Care (CoC) benefits to continue that care on an in-network basis; contact Florida Blue at the number on the back of your insurance card to find out if you may qualify for CoC benefits.
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I have an appointment before October am I still covered?
Remember that nothing changes before Oct. 1, 2025.
- Keep all your scheduled appointments and procedures with BayCare, and don’t delay routine health screenings, procedures or tests important to your health.
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How can I protect my access to BayCare?
Call Florida Blue at the number on the back of your insurance card and urge them to work with BayCare on a new agreement.
- If you receive your insurance through your employer, talk to your Human Resources or Benefits Department and urge them to contact Florida Blue.
- If you have a Medicare Advantage plan with Florida Blue or an affiliated Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan, let Florida Blue know how important access to BayCare physicians and facilities is to you as you consider your choices in the upcoming open enrollment period that begins Oct. 15, 2025.
- For any other questions, call BayCare at (813) 443-8070.
Why BayCare
BayCare is a not-for-profit, mission-driven health care team.
We are reinvesting in our patients and their access to essential care every day. Every penny we generate is reinvested into patient care, expanded access and new services.
- Our mission is to improve the health of all we serve through community-owned health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. By refusing to adequately reimburse us, Florida Blue puts our ability to provide the essential care patients need and deserve at risk.
- We have a commitment to do what’s right for our patients and our community. In 2024 alone, we provided $467 million to community benefit. Additionally, we are the region’s largest provider of Behavioral Health services and have even deepened our commitment to hiring more Behavioral Health providers to help address the community’s unmet needs, a decision that comes at a substantial financial cost to the system.
- Health care value is a focus for BayCare, with many of our agreements with health insurance companies focusing on value. We have value-based agreements that focus on quality, not quantity, with many insurance companies – including Florida Blue. With these agreements, we lower the cost of care by keeping patients healthy and out of the hospital.
Health Insurance Plans
BayCare has network agreements with many health insurance companies.
Click here to view the list of insurance companies with which BayCare contracts.
What You Can Do
Remember that nothing changes before Oct. 1, 2025.
- Keep all your scheduled appointments and procedures with BayCare, and don’t delay routine health screenings, procedures or tests important to your health.
- Call Florida Blue at the number on the back of your insurance card and urge them to work with BayCare on a new agreement.
- If you receive your insurance through your employer, talk to your Human Resources or Benefits Department and urge them to contact Florida Blue.
- If you have a Medicare Advantage plan through Florida Blue or an affiliated Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, you have the option to consider a new Medicare Advantage plan during open enrollment that begins Oct. 15.
- Click here to view the list of insurance companies with which BayCare contracts.
- For any other questions, call BayCare at (813) 443-8070.