Hundreds of Long Islanders may need to find new doctors starting Thursday, Jan. 1, after Mount Sinai failed to reach a contract agreement with insurance carrier Anthem.
Mount Sinai said Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield informed the health system that the two sides would not reach new terms for commercial, Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Essential Plans before current contracts expire Wednesday, Dec. 31.
As a result, about 9,000 Mount Sinai physicians will become out of network for Anthem patients beginning Jan. 1.
In March, all Mount Sinai hospitals and facilities are also scheduled to go out of network for people with Anthem insurance.
Anthem representatives could not be immediately reached for comment.
Mount Sinai said in a statement the change will not affect patients who are in active treatment for serious conditions, including cancer or pregnancy. The health system said it is required to continue in-network access for those patients for a limited period after the contract expires.
