Key questions and answers
Yes, Florida Blue and Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) are in contract negotiations. We hope to reach a fair agreement before September 30, 2024.
Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) and Florida Blue have entered numerous contract renewal negotiations during our longstanding relationship. Unfortunately, because Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) is demanding excessive annual rate increases that are well above inflation, we have not reached agreement. Agreeing to their terms would be irresponsible and significantly drive-up costs for our members in Southwest Florida, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet.
Unlike publicly traded insurance companies, Florida Blue is part of a mission driven company that places the interests of our members and customers first. Access to affordable health insurance is critical to our mission of helping people and communities achieve better health.
Naples Comprehensive Health hospitals, physicians and other clinicians and its other service locations will be out of network for all services if an agreement is not reached by October 1, 2024.
If you are unsure whether a particular provider could be affected, please contact us by calling the number located on the back of your member ID card.
- As required by Federal and State law, emergency services and care are covered even at out-of-network facilities.
- Even if Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) chooses to exit the network, some impacted members who are undergoing treatment or pregnant can continue receiving care from their current provider with the same benefits and cost share.
If an agreement is not reached, and I need to find a new provider, what do I do?
You can easily find and choose other in-network hospitals, physician, or clinical sites in your area by logging into your member account at FloridaBlue.com. From the top navigation, click Find & Get Care then My Care Team.
My Care Team will display your new assigned physician if your current assigned primary care doctor is with Naples Comprehensive Health.
If you wish to change to your assigned physician, click Update My PCP. You can also find and update your provider in our Florida Blue mobile app.
Or, if you need help selecting a physician or service location to suit your needs, please call the number located on the back of your member ID card so we can help or visit the Florida Blue Center nearest to you for face-to-face support. More than half of Floridians live within 10 miles of a Florida Blue Center.
Yes. If you choose an out-of-network provider for services, you will normally have to pay higher out-of-pocket costs, which could include the full cost of your care. You can look up details specific to your plan by logging in to your member account on FloridaBlue.com.
Florida Blue is committed to ensuring that OB-GYN/Labor and Delivery services remain open for our members and to ensure those services are covered as they always have been. Our expectation is that Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) will not turn away Florida Blue members accessing these critical services.
Some members who are currently receiving treatment or pregnant can continue to receive services with the same benefits and cost sharing even if Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) chooses to exit our network. For more details about Continuity of Care, please call the member services phone number located on the back of your Florida Blue member ID card.
Pregnant mothers and people undergoing active treatment have additional state and federal protections under Continuity of Care guidelines that immediately take effect for a specified period of time if an agreement is not reached by September 30. These laws are to ensure that members can access their providers at the same in-network rates and member benefit responsibility.
We have spoken with Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) and they agree to ensure that our members are able to keep and make upcoming appointments — to see their medical teams over the next few weeks as we work to try and resolve this matter before the October 1 deadline. Our goal remains to reach an agreement that preserves access to affordable care and minimizes disruptions for our members.
To find other physicians in your area, please check the Florida Blue online provider directory or call the number located on the back of your Florida Blue member ID card.
We have a robust network of quality providers across the region, and we are confident that all members in the area will be able to access the care they need.
To help educate individual and group members about the contract negotiations process, we have developed informational tools that highlight how we regularly work with doctors, pharmacies, and other health care facilities and providers, advocating in the best interest of the communities we serve. To learn more, please visit FloridaBlue.com/Networks.