Prime Healthcare’s hospitals could soon be out-of-network for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois members
By Lisa Schencker
Published on March 13, 2026.
Prime Healthcare, the company that owns eight Illinois hospitals, may soon no longer be in-network with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, forcing some patients to switch doctors or pay more for care. The company and Blue Cross are currently in contract negotiations, but have yet to reach an agreement. If no agreement is reached, Blue Cross members with HMOs would no longer have coverage for health care at Prime hospitals, except in emergencies. Prime's hospitals and physicians are still in-hospital with BlueCross. The remaining patients would have to pay more out-of-pocket for the care. Prime Healthcare, which bought the hospitals from nonprofit Ascension in 2025 for over $370 million, remains committed to supporting patients and working towards a solution that protects access and continuity of care.
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