BCH and Aetna Contract Set to Expire March 14, 2026; Negotiations Ongoing to Maintain In-Network Access

Updated: December 31, 2025
BCH and Aetna’s current contract will expire at midnight on March 14, 2026. Failure to reach a new agreement prior to this time will result in the termination of BCH’s commercial and Medicare Advantage contracts with Aetna for services provided at BCH facilities and by our employed provider network.

BCH is working in good faith with Aetna to avoid a contract termination and to preserve in-network access to BCH services and providers. BCH submitted its renewal request to Aetna at the end of October and we are waiting for a response from Aetna. While an agreement has not yet been reached, Aetna has indicated its desire to finalize an agreement prior to March 15 to prevent any disruption in coverage.

To be clear, right now patients with Aetna insurance continue to have in-network access to care with BCH providers through March 14, 2026.

Hospitals and health systems across the US are experiencing significant adverse financial impacts related to the rapid increases in costs for labor, supplies and other expenses. As a non-profit independent community health system, BCH relies on fair rate increases to remain financially stable. BCH must receive reasonable payment increases that cover inflationary health care costs to allow us to provide the best care for the communities we serve including critical services such as comprehensive cardiac care services, geriatric care, advanced cancer treatment and inpatient mental health care.

You can play an important role in maintaining top quality local health care services. Contact Aetna by calling the Member Services number on the back of your member ID card or let your employer know how important it is for BCH providers to remain in-network. We have partnered with Aetna for many years to provide our community with in-network access to BCH providers and services and hope to reach an agreement that supports our ability to provide top-quality, convenient and personalized medical care uniquely tailored to our community’s needs and values.

Frequently asked questions regarding Boulder Community Health (BCH) and Aetna Healthcare Contract Renewal Negotiations

Q: What is happening between BCH and Aetna?
A: BCH and AETNA’s current contract for commercial and Medicare Advantage insurance will expire at midnight March 14, 2026. BCH has been in discussions with Aetna’s senior leadership teams pursuing a financially sustainable renewal in order to provide you with in-network access to BCH services. Failure to reach an acceptable agreement will result in a termination of our contract with Aetna for services provided at BCH facilities and by our employed physician network.

Q: What does this termination notification mean right now?
A: For now, patients with Aetna commercial and Medicare Advantage insurance continue to have in-network access to care at BCH facilities and with BCH employed providers through March 14, 2026. If BCH is forced to move forward with this termination, BCH-employed physicians and advanced care providers, hospital-based services and our facilities including Foothills Hospital will be out-of-network on and after March 15, 2026.

Q: Why has BCH sent a termination notification and when will the termination be effective?
A: BCH reviews our contracts with health plans to assure we are adhering to the provisions of the agreement and that the terms of the contract allow us to continue providing our patients and community with high- quality, cost effective health care. BCH sent a termination notification to Aetna in order to prevent the possibility of an automatic renewal with no sustainable change in reimbursement.

As a nonprofit independent community resource, BCH is dependent on fair rate increases to remain financially stable. BCH does not want to terminate this contract, however Aetna has not yet provided a proposal that will support the future needs of BCH. Like most industries, health care is experiencing significant adverse financial impacts increasing the financial burden on hospitals.

Q: Why is this happening? Why is BCH negotiating a new contract?
A: Contract negotiations are part of the normal working relationship between health insurance plans and BCH. We have been working in good faith to reach an agreement that will compensate for the rising cost to provide care and allow us to continue providing top-quality patient care that is uniquely tailored to your needs and our community's values.

Q: What can I do to reduce the possibility of the Aetna contract terminating?
A: You can play an important role in maintaining top quality local health care services. Contact Aetna or let your employer know how important it is for BCH providers to remain in-network.

Q: What will happen to patients’ benefits if the contract is terminated?
A: As of March 15, 2026, BCH facilities, hospital-based services and BCH employed physicians and advanced practice providers will be out-of-network and therefore subject to higher out-of-pocket fees. This includes the following BCH clinics and facilities:

Primary Care:

• Anchor Point Primary Care
• Boulder Creek Family Medicine
• Erie Primary Care
• Family Medical Associates
• Frontier Internal Medicine
• Geriatric Medicine of BCH at Boulder
• Geriatric Medicine of BCH at Longmont
• Gunbarrel Family Medicine
• Internal Medicine Associates of Boulder
• Northwest Family Medicine

Specialty Care:

• Associated Neurologists
• Beacon Center for Infectious Disease
• Boulder Creek Family Medicine
• Boulder Heart (Boulder)
• Boulder Heart (Erie)
• Boulder Heart (Lafayette)
• Boulder Heart (Longmont)
• Boulder Neurosurgical and Spine Associates of BCH
• Boulder Valley Pulmonology of BCH - Boulder
• Boulder Valley Pulmonology of BCH - Louisville
• Boulder Valley Surgical Associates of BCH
• Boulder Women’s Care of BCH
• Boulder Women’s Care of BCH (Erie)
• CU Sports Medicine & Performance Center
• Endocrinology Associates of BCH
• Foothills Community Midwives of BCH
• Foothills Community Midwives of BCH (Erie)
• Foothills Neonatal Practice
• Hospital Medicine Services

BCH-owned Facilities:

• Boulder Community Foothills Hospital
• Community Medical Center
  • Emergency Department
  • Imaging
  • Lab
  • Outpatient Physical Therapy
• CU Sports Medicine and Performance Center Imaging
• Della Cava Family Medical Pavilion Behavioral Health (Inpatient)
• Erie Medical Center
  • Imaging
  • Lab
  • Urgent Care
• Imaging Services (all locations)
• Laboratory Services (all locations)

• BCH Sports Medicine Imaging LLC
• Boulder MRI
• Boulder Musculoskeletal Surgery Center
• Foothills Surgery Center
• Endoscopy Center of the Rockies (all locations)
• Premier Eye Surgery Center of CO

Q: If the Aetna contract terminates, what other insurance companies and plan types will be in-network for BCH?
A: If the Aetna contract terminates, BCH is in-network with the majority of other insurance companies offering commercial and Medicare Advantage plans in Colorado.

Click here for a list of BCH’s other in-network commercial and Medicare Advantage plans