Oklahoma Insurance Department Responds To Saint Francis Network Concerns

The Oklahoma Insurance Department is getting calls for help after some local patients were told they will no longer be in-network at the Saint Francis Warren Clinic.

Saint Francis says the Medicare Advantage Plans impacted are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and Wellcare.

Patients on those plans would be out of network with primary care doctors at Warren Clinic. The Insurance Department says if you’re impacted your best option is to find a new doctor at another hospital that’s in network.

“So we do have a network disruption here in Tulsa, it’s a big deal for a lot of folks,” Mike Rhoads, Deputy Commissioner of Oklahoma Insurance Department, said. "If indeed there is a desire to switch primary care doctors the individual should do that or find another primary care can’t be one at Warren Clinic. But it can be one at another health system."

Other options include continuing to see your primary care doctor but paying out-of-network costs, changing your insurance plan to ensure you stay in-network, or in some cases, getting a waiver to continue receiving coverage.

“We have recently become aware of these 3,000 letters that Warren Clinic is now telling some of these individuals," Rhoads said. "If you are insured under your employer your Medicare-eligible beneficiary you can get a waiver and still stay with Warren Clinic.

For assistance with your plan, you can contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department's Medicare Assistance Program at 1-800-763-2828 or visit their website HERE.

The open enrollment window for Medicare is open now until December 7th