Families throughout Connecticut have an important decision to make as the contract between one of the state's biggest insurers and Connecticut Children's Medical Center expired at midnight.
Anthem said it is offering to increase current rates by an unspecified amount, but that CCMC continues "to look for commercial insurance carriers to absorb and cover increasingly greater amounts of the shortfalls from government payments."
CCMC released a statement, saying current reimbursement rates fall well below the national average for children's hospitals.
"To be able to maintain our ability to offer children and families the care they deserve, we must stand firm on the principle that insurance companies compensate us fairly. Doing so is a critical step we need to continue to provide the highest quality and safest care to our patients and their families," hospital president Martin Gavin said.
Anthem said care at the UConn Health Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Farmington would also be affected, as would all inpatient pediatric care at St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury, except for that hospital's NICU. Both programs are operated by CCMC, according to Anthem.
Families who are covered by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield expressed their worry and fears about this will affects their children.
Lissett Maldonado is the mother of three children and her daughter sees a hearing specialist.
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In the past, Anthem covered all expenses and Maldonado said she does not think she will be able to afford to pay out of network rates.
"I come here all the time and I live right down the street. I'm struggling now and this is where I bring my kids, this is the time of year my children have allergies so what do we do?" said Maldonado.
Paul Little's son, James, has an illness that affects his kidneys.
"If you have to start dealing with medical bills, that's a big concern for myself and my wife. It causes stress for you, which is unfortunate, but you have to deal with it and prepare for the worst," Little said.
CCMC will still accept patients with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance and a nurse from the hospital said they are working diligently with patients to explain what their options are.
"Families are very upset and we have assured them it would not be the case. We are committed to them and taking care of families," Barbara Mulholland said.
