May 9, 2026
Prime Healthcare, which owns eight Illinois hospitals, will remain in-network with the state’s largest health insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois for now, following months of uncertainty over whether the two companies would reach a contract agreement, the health system announced Thursday evening.
The current agreement will now continue into next year.
In statements and news releases, Prime Healthcare noted that “[p]atients will continue to have uninterrupted access and no impact to costs” and that BCBS of Illinois “will correct previously issued termination notices related to the June 1 date.”
Source: Chicago Tribune via InsuranceNewsNet
May 5, 2026
Prime Healthcare patients with coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois are receiving letters from BCBSIL telling them that Prime Healthcare may go out of network after May 31, 2026.
When asked for comment about the Blue Cross Blue Shield network agreement, a Prime spokesperson said in an email that the insurer had sent out the notice preemptively, and that negotiations are still ongoing.
This contract affects the following hospitals:
- Holy Family Medical Center, Des Plaines
- Mercy Medical Center, Aurora
- Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago
- Saint Francis Hospital, Evanston
- Saint Joseph Hospital, Elgin
- Saint Joseph Medical Center, Joliet
- Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital, Chicago
- St. Mary’s Hospital, Kankakee
Prime Healthcare is also currently in the process of acquiring Franciscan Health in Olympia Fields.
Sources: Prime Healthcare, Shaw Local