Aetna

Protecting your healthcare access and choice.

Despite substantial efforts by Dignity Health’s Payer Strategy and Relationships team to negotiate new agreements with Aetna in California, Arizona, and Nevada, Aetna has been unwilling to agree to responsible terms that help address the unprecedented financial challenges experienced by Dignity Health over the last several years. As a result, Dignity Health provider agreements, except for the California and Arizona provider agreements listed below, are terminated (out of network with Aetna) for all Commercial and Medicare Advantage products as of 11:59 p.m. April 4, 2024.

Expires 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2024 (for Aetna California HMO members only)

  • Mercy Medical Group
  • Woodland Clinic
  • Dignity Health Medical Network — Central California (may also be listed as GemCare or Independence Medical Group)
  • Dignity Health Medical Network — Santa Cruz
  • Dignity Health Medical Network — Ventura (CA)

No expiration

  • Saint Francis Memorial Hospital (San Francisco, CA)
  • St. Mary's Medical Center (San Francisco, CA)
  • SFO Clinic (San Francisco, CA)
  • Sister Mary Philippa Clinic (San Francisco, CA)
  • Dignity Health Medical Group — Saint Francis/St. Mary's (San Francisco, CA)
  • Yavapai Regional Medical Center (hospital only; Yavapai Regional Medical Group is subject to termination)
  • Dignity Health - USPI (Arizona only) joint venture specialty hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers 

It is possible that Dignity Health and Aetna may reach agreeable terms and reinstate on these impacted contracts in the near future.. If there is a change in the contracting status between Dignity Health and Aetna, additional communication will be distributed to inform staff, hospital leaders and our JV partners.

Continuity of Care/Transition of Coverage

  • Aetna patients in active treatment for an acute or serious chronic condition, pregnancy, terminal illness, newborn care, or who have an authorized surgery/procedure, may be eligible to continue with their current Dignity Health provider on and after April 5, 2024.
  • It is important for providers to identify such patients that need to continue with their current Dignity Health provider, now. 
  • Patients must submit a completed Transition of Coverage Request Form (Continuity of Care) to Aetna within 90 days of the termination.
  • Patients can obtain these forms on the Aetna website or by calling Aetna using the phone number on the back of their insurance cards.
  • Dignity Health providers will need to sign and complete the diagnostic and treatment information section of the form.

Aetna patients impacted by the termination should reach out to their employer/benefits department or to Aetna directly to let them know that they want Dignity Health providers back in their network. You may let patients know Dignity Health is contracted with most major commercial and Medicare Advantage plans other than Aetna.

Dignity Health can see all patients, but we must educate them on their options and financial impact if potentially utilizing out-of-network benefits or opting to self-pay. Ultimately, the patients make the decision to stay with a Dignity Health provider or to seek care from another Aetna contracted provider. Patients need to understand that choice may have significant financial implications for them.

Patients with questions about Dignity Health’s network status with Aetna may contact our call center at 877-729-2669.