BJC HealthCare, Saint Luke’s to leave Aetna Medicare Advantage

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A change in health care coverage is coming for people who use Aetna Medicare Advantage plans in Kansas City.

BJC Health, which includes Saint Luke’s in Kansas City, said it will no longer be an in-network provider for Aetna Medicare Advantage plans effective Jan. 1, 2027, after failing to reach a new agreement.

In a statement, BJC Health said:

“Despite lengthy negotiations, Saint Luke’s was not able to come to a satisfactory agreement with Aetna Medicare Advantage plans to renew the agreement after Dec. 31, 2026. Effective Jan. 1, 2027, Saint Luke’s will no longer be an in-network provider for Aetna’s Medicare Advantage plans. Aetna commercial plan agreements are current, and BJC will remain in-network for 2027 and beyond. Although Aetna has stated that Aetna Medicare Advantage patients can continue to receive care from BJC providers, they have not fully explained that doing so may result in significantly higher costs under out-of-network benefits.”

Aetna said it is willing to work with BJC/Saint Luke’s to reach an agreement that keeps them in its Medicare network. The change also affects Washington University School of Medicine physicians and providers in St. Louis.

Aetna said it has a robust provider network in Kansas City and St. Louis. Members with questions are asked to call the number on their membership ID card.

BJC said its priority is patients and it remains committed to finding a solution. Patient resources include:

• www.saintlukeskc.org/medicareinfo
• Chapter Advisory, a free Medicare adviser: https://askchapter.org/partners/medicare-help

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2026, for coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

The change comes a day after Children’s Mercy Hospital announced that ACA Marketplace coverage is changing on January 1st, following a decision CMH says was out of the hospital’s control.