Mercy Health and Cigna Healthcare have reached a multi-year agreement, ensuring that Cigna's commercially insured patients will remain in-network at Mercy Health facilities in Ohio.

The agreement, effective April 1, 2025, averts a potential disruption in healthcare access that had been looming as contract negotiations between the two entities stretched past multiple deadlines.

Mercy Health confirmed the agreement in a statement on its website, emphasizing that hospitals, physicians, urgent care centers, surgery centers, and other care sites would remain in-network for Cigna's commercial health plan members. Commercial plans are those provided by employers.

"We understand that the possibility of Mercy Health being out of network was incredibly difficult for many of our patients," the statement read. "Our goal has always been to have long-term, equitable agreements with major payers so our patients can have seamless access to quality care in their communities."

Cigna release a statement of their own that reads as follows:

“An agreement has been reached with Bon Secours Mercy Health to continue providing in-network health care for the people we jointly serve. This multi-year agreement will keep Bon Secours Mercy Health in network without a break in participation. We remain committed to improving the health and vitality of our customers in the region through access to affordable care.”

The announcement followed a period of uncertainty, during which a 24-hour contract extension had been implemented after an initial deadline passed without a resolution. Earlier, both companies had warned patients that without an agreement, Cigna customers would face out-of-network costs at Mercy Health facilities.

Mercy Health expressed gratitude to patients for their understanding during the negotiations and reiterated its commitment to serving the community.

"There has been no outage in care – we’re grateful to have remained in network for our patients during our negotiations with Cigna," Mercy Health stated.

The agreement resolves concerns about increased out-of-pocket expenses or the need for patients to find alternative healthcare providers.