Negotiations with BlueCross BlueShield of Texas
For more than 118 years, Memorial Hermann Health System has proudly served the Greater Houston community, providing personalized, compassionate and high-quality care. Whether in our hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, outpatient clinics or urgent care centers, Houstonians trust us with their care.
Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, Memorial Hermann employees and providers come to work with one shared purpose: to improve the health of all those we serve. Fulfilling that mission depends on patients and the community being able to receive care from caregivers they know and trust.
We are currently negotiating a new agreement with BlueCross BlueShield of Texas (BCBSTX) to remain an in-network provider for its members. Our goal is to ensure we can continue delivering timely, high-quality care to the countless individuals and families who rely on us every day.
To learn more about the status of our current contract negotiations with BCBSTX, please read on.
Update on Our Ongoing Negotiations with BlueCross BlueShield of Texas (BCBSTX)
Memorial Hermann has initiated contract renewal discussions with BCBSTX well in advance of our contract renewal date of April 1, 2026. These are routine and necessary discussions so that both parties can establish terms that support long-term access to affordable, high-quality care for our patients and the communities we serve.
Memorial Hermann is actively negotiating with BCBSTX for new agreements that cover the care we deliver to patients who have commercial and Blue Advantage Marketplace health plans. The current agreements expire on April 1, 2026.
As you may be aware, Memorial Hermann has terminated its relationship with BCBSTX effective Jan. 1, 2026, solely for the Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. With Annual Enrollment just ending recently on Dec. 7, 2025, and Open Enrollment beginning Jan. 1, 2026, and continuing through March 31, 2026, we hope you were able to and can still evaluate all MA plan options if interested in remaining with Memorial Hermann facilities and providers.
Contract negotiations between health insurance companies and health care providers are routine and provide an important opportunity to reevaluate and update terms to ensure for fairness, competitiveness and alignment with current market realities.
As always, we are approaching this negotiation with BCBSTX in good faith and with a collaborative intent – seeking fair and reasonable terms that support high-quality care delivery, our providers, our workforce and the high standard of care Houstonians expect from Memorial Hermann.
As we work with BCBSTX to reach new contract terms, BCBSTX members may continue to receive care at Memorial Hermann hospitals and facilities, and with our providers, through March 31, 2026.
Our priority is to maintain in-network access for BCBSTX members without compromising our standards of excellence, quality and service.
Frequently Asked Questions
In late summer 2025, Memorial Hermann began negotiating with BCBSTX for renewed hospital, ancillary, and physician network contracts, which impact the PPO/POS, HMO and Blue Advantage Marketplace networks.
As part of the routine negotiation process with BCBSTX, Memorial Hermann issued a formal notice of termination of these contracts for Memorial Hermann and BCBSTX to align on new terms well in advance of the contract end date on April 1, 2026.
Nothing changes for patients right now. You can, and should, continue scheduling appointments and receiving treatment for care as you normally would.
We remain committed to reaching new agreements with BCBSTX to prevent any unnecessary disruption in the high-quality care provided to our patients, and we expect BCBSTX to do the same by engaging in meaningful discussions to protect its members’ and our patients’ in-network access to Memorial Hermann.
If necessary, further details will be provided regarding how to request continuity of care authorizations from BCBSTX.
We are committed to working in good faith with BCBSTX to finalize a renewed agreement well in advance of the contract renewal deadline.
We have successfully negotiated with BCBSTX for more than 20 years, and while we do not anticipate any disruption, we are prepared for all possibilities.
If an agreement cannot be reached by March 31, 2026, Memorial Hermann will be forced out of BCBSTX’s network, effective April 1, 2026. We expect that BCBSTX will work in good faith with us to ensure our contract does not expire.
All Memorial Hermann hospitals, joint-ventured facilities, clinics, employed and affiliated physicians would be impacted if the contracts between Memorial Hermann and BCBSTX expire. Emergency care would not be impacted. Patients seeking emergency medical care should continue to seek treatment at any of Memorial Hermann’s hospitals and/or Emergency Centers.
BCBSTX products in the following networks would be impacted: PPO/POS, HMO, and Blue Advantage Marketplace networks.
As discussions with BCBSTX continue to evolve, Memorial Hermann will provide updates regarding any significant developments. Please continue to check back here.
No. Our negotiations with BCBSTX only impact those who have a BCBSTX insurance plan or an out-of-state BCBS insurance plan accessing the local BCBSTX contracted provider networks.
Please contact the Member Services number on the back of your plan Member ID Card to confirm.
Contact Us
This website will provide our patients and community with the most up-to-date information regarding our negotiations with BlueCross BlueShield of Texas. If you did not find the information you need, or have questions about the ongoing negotiations with BCBSTX and how your care may be impacted, please email ManagedCareBCBSTX@memorialhermann.org.