Tenet notified us that they will leave our network on January 1, 2026, unless we agree to demands that would make health care much more expensive for you and your family.
The Cigna Healthcare team is working hard to reach agreement on a new contract that will keep health care affordable for you. It’s disappointing that Tenet is spreading misinformation and stoking fear among patients as an apparent negotiating tactic, putting the people they care for in the middle.
We want you to know the facts
- Tenet is choosing to leave our network.
- They are demanding rates that far exceed the rate of inflation on health care services, which would make their hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) much more expensive than other facilities in your community. Ambulatory surgery centers are supposed to be a more affordable alternative to the hospital, but if we agreed to Tenet’s demands, their ASCs would be more expensive than many hospitals.
- Tenet wants to be able to bill however they want and force you and your employer to pay as they billed. This is unacceptable, as errors in billing do occur. As an example, we recently disputed a $100,000 charge because our review confirmed Tenet should not have needed to provide an expensive item that was billed. Without our review, charges like this would be unchecked.
Why is Tenet demanding higher rates?
We understand that Tenet, like many providers across the country, faces high labor costs and other factors that contribute to cost pressures. We want Tenet to stay in our network and continue providing care for you, but only at rates that are reasonable and in line with other providers in your area.
What happens if we agree to Tenet’s demands?
Consider who pays Tenet’s bills: most of you have employer-sponsored benefit plans that are self-funded- that means the actual cost of health care services is directly paid by you and your employers through payroll deductions. When the cost of care goes up, you and your families pay more.
Cigna Healthcare successfully renegotiates agreements with thousands of health care providers every year, and most of these are resolved without any disruption to customers. In fact, on average, over 99% of our contracted hospitals remain in our network year over year.
We hope Tenet will do what is right for the people we both serve.
What happens if Tenet decides to leave our network?
You may be eligible for Continuity of Care
This allows you to continue in-network coverage for certain treatment provided by Tenet for a defined period of time. To find out more, please contact us at the toll-free number on your Cigna ID card, or use the myCigna® app or website.
If you’ve been approved for services that start after January 1, 2026
Customer Service Advocates are available 24/7 to help you get approval for treatment at another hospital in your network.
If you are admitted before January 1 but your stay continues past this date
As long as we have approved your stay, the services you receive will be covered at the in-network benefit level, even if you stay after January 1, 2026.
Emergency care services will be covered at the in-network level
Additional services you receive as part of your emergency visit may also be covered at the in-network level, including out-of-network services received during an inpatient admission or outpatient observation stay.
Who will be affected?
If Tenet leaves our network, OAP, PPO, HMO, LocalPlus and Surefit members will be affected, and any services delivered by Tenet providers would be covered at an out-of-network benefit level (if your plan has out-of-network benefits). Seeking care from out-of-network providers will lead to higher costs, which is why we encourage you to seek care from in-network providers.
While we hope we can keep Tenet in our network, even without Tenet providers our network is broad and robust with options for our members to receive care - click the state-by-state dropdown menu below to learn more.
