Phoenix Children’s Hospital will not be covered by ACA insurance in 2018

Patients being treated at Phoenix Children’s Hospital may be facing some difficult decisions in the near future.  The only insurance provider in the Affordable Care Act marketplace insurance plan dropped the hospital from its network.

This week, Health Net made the announcement that starting January 1, they would no longer cover services under it Ambetter plans at the children’s hospital.

Health Net is the only Affordable Care Act insurance provider in both Maricopa and Pima counties and Ambetter is its insurance package for ACA consumers.


Reports state that hospital personnel were caught off guard by the cancellation of the contract.

Although the contract is being cancelled, the hospitals vice president, Douglas Myers, stated that they will continue to find a way to provide care for Phoenix area in need of care. This move would affect some 1,000 patients according to Myers

Health Net Arizona spokeswoman Monica Coury said patients who will lose coverage at Phoenix Children’s Hospital can seek nearly all the same services at Banner’s Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa. They will also continue to cover services at PCH’s emergency room.

Despite their contract ending, Coury stated that Health Net will work with patients who will need services that can only be provided by Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Although there is no current dialogue to bring the hospital back into the network, but both sides would be open to the possibility.