With the potential departure of Michigan Medicine's Southeast Michigan facilities, we've compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you understand the impact on your care and what options are available to you.
Michigan Medicine is choosing to remove its Southeast Michigan facilities and physicians from the Blue Cross and BCN networks, and as of July 1, 2026, they no longer have a contract with us. This means there are no agreed-upon prices for physician or hospital services, which could lead to higher costs for you, if you receive care at a Michigan Medicine facility or by one of their physicians on or after July 1, 2026.
No, only Michigan Medicine facilities in Southeast Michigan.
Michigan Medicine emergency rooms are not affected, but you should only use the emergency room for emergency care. When you receive emergency care, you will be protected from surprise bills*, although specific cost coverage varies by plan. Until a new contract is reached, we encourage you to seek other participating hospitals for emergency room, elective and non-emergency services.
*Under the No Surprises Act, the hospital cannot bill you for costs above the amount allowed by Blue Cross.
Our members have access to many alternate participating facilities.
See a list of participating hospitals in the Blue Cross network (PDF)
Blue Cross and BCN have many participating providers. Go to bcbsm.com and click on the Find Care tab for a directory of participating providers.
Michigan Medicine Southeast Michigan facilities and providers will no longer participate in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan and Blue Care Network networks, as of July 1, 2026, unless a new agreement is reached. Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement members are NOT impacted.
Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement members are NOT affected. This includes the PPO and BCNA plans.
Medicare Advantage PPO and HMO, and Medicare Supplement members are not affected by this change and may continue to receive services and see providers at Michigan Medicine’s Southeast Michigan facilities.
Michigan Medicine is demanding a 44% increase in payments from Blue Cross over the term of a new contract. We oppose this because of the destabilizing impact it will have on the affordability of health care and health insurance for families and employers. Our payment proposals to Michigan Medicine are fair and reasonable, providing increases that account for the incremental costs every business is experiencing, while providing additional payments focused on quality outcomes for patients. We remain hopeful that we will successfully negotiate a new payment contract before July 1, 2026.
As of 12:01 a.m. July 1, 2026, Michigan Medicine Southeast Michigan facilities and physicians will no longer be participating in the Blue Cross and BCN networks for commercial members. There are no changes to coverage until July 1, 2026. Medicare Advantage members are not impacted.
We want you to know that Blue Cross represents you in the negotiation. As families and employers continue to see their health insurance costs become very expensive, our efforts to negotiate fair and responsible payment contracts with health systems are essential to keeping your health insurance as affordable as possible.
Our latest proposal to Michigan Medicine is to pay more – not less – for services. Our payment proposals are fair and reasonable, providing increases that account for the incremental costs every business is experiencing, while providing additional payments focused on quality outcomes for patients. We remain hopeful that we will successfully negotiate a new payment contract before July 1, 2026.
We are diligently working on a resolution, and members will be notified of any future agreement. The latest updates are always available on bcbsm.com/updates.
Blue Cross notified subscribers who have someone enrolled in their plan that has used a Michigan Medicine Southeast Michigan facility or provider in the last 36 months. Outreach to impacted subscribers began on March 4, 2026.
In many of our health plans, Blue Cross will only pay its approved amount for certain services on or after July 1, 2026:
*Under the No Surprises Act, the hospital cannot bill you for costs above the amount allowed by Blue Cross.
Many services will not be paid for by Blue Cross or will be paid at a lesser amount when Michigan Medicine leaves our networks on July 1, 2026. Michigan Medicine could bill you the difference between what Blue Cross or BCN pays for the service and Michigan Medicine’s billed charges. We recommend you seek elective care at other participating hospitals.
If you choose to continue to seek care at a non-participating Michigan Medicine Southeast Michigan facility, you will have additional out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare Advantage members are not impacted.
If we agree to Michigan Medicine’s current demands of a 44% increase, it would impact your future health care costs. Maintaining affordable health insurance for our members is a priority for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
As of today, physicians at Michigan Medicine’s Southeast Michigan facilities participate in our network. However, if Blue Cross and Michigan Medicine don’t reach an agreement, they will no longer be participating in our network beginning July 1, 2026. Members can visit bcbsm.com and select the Find Care tab to choose a participating provider.
You can call their office and ask if they are in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan or BCN network.
Members can visit bcbsm.com and use our Find Care tool to confirm if a provider or facility participates in our network. You can also call the number on the back of your member ID card to ask a representative.
Yes, Michigan Medicine physicians in Southeast Michigan facilities will no longer be participating in our network as of July 1, 2026, unless a new agreement is reached. Members can visit bcbsm.com and select the Find Care tab to choose a participating provider.
Yes – if you have a referral to see a physician or have a service at a Michigan Medicine Southeast Michigan facility on or after July 1, 2026, you need to switch to a participating provider or facility. Discuss this with the doctor who gave you the referral and let them know that specialists have to participate in the Blue Cross or BCN networks.
For PPO members, existing prior authorizations will still be valid if you have continuity of care and the effective date of the prior authorization is within the continuity of care timeframe. If this is not the case, then your provider will have to request a new prior authorization, and you should use a participating facility after Michigan Medicine’s Southeast Michigan facilities leave the Blue Cross and BCN networks.
For HMO members, existing prior authorizations will be honored if used within the required 30-day window of time. If they have expired, a member will have to get a new prior authorization for a participating provider.
Previously scheduled non-elective procedures will be covered by Blue Cross and members will be responsible for participating, out-of-pocket costs.
Many other services, including elective surgeries, will not be covered or will be covered at a lesser amount, if a new contract is not signed before July 1, 2026. Michigan Medicine could bill you the difference between what Blue Cross pays for the service and Michigan Medicine’s billed charges. We recommend you schedule procedures with participating providers and facilities.
Continuity of care is a program to help pay health care costs for certain medical conditions (see below) from Michigan Medicine Southeast facilities and providers for up to 90 days if they leave our network on July 1, 2026. Blue Cross or BCN members may qualify for continuing care services, if any of the below applies:
We understand how important it is for patients to have consistent, coordinated management of their health care. Reviews for Continuity of Care are not occurring at this time. Eligible members can confirm if they qualify in mid-May. Members should continue to monitor communication from Blue Cross and check this website for updates.
If you qualify for Continuity of Care, it will start the day Michigan Medicine Southeast Michigan facilities and providers leave our network, or July 1, 2026. It will last for 90 days. We encourage you to find care with an alternate participating provider or facility during this time. Please visit bcbsm.com and use the Find Care tool to assist you in choosing a participating provider or facility.
Once you schedule a service or procedure with a new participating facility, call Michigan Medicine and ask them to transfer your medical records to the new hospital/facility. You may need to complete a medical records transfer request.
While we continue to seek a resolution, if you have questions about payments for services under your coverage, please call the number on the back of your member ID card.