BJC Health Reaches Agreement with Aetna for Commercial and Medicare Advantage Plans

ST. LOUIS (Dec. 18, 2025) – BJC Health has reached an agreement with Aetna on all key terms for a new, multi-year agreement for commercial, or group, plans and a one-year agreement for its Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. This agreement ensures BJC HealthCare and Saint Luke’s entities, including hospitals and physician and provider practices, remain in-network. As a result of these negotiations, there will be no lapse in BJC’s network participation or in-network benefits for Aetna members.

BJC and Aetna are now working together to complete all the formal documentation to memorialize the Jan. 1, 2026, renewal agreements, which are expected to be finalized before the end of 2025. This agreement follows months of active and thoughtful discussions to determine what is best for the region and patients. BJC and Aetna will both send communication to patients/members to confirm they are aware of the successful conclusion of the negotiations.

“We appreciate our patients’ understanding these past several months as we worked on the new agreement with Aetna to ensure our patients receive continuous in-network access to world-class care with our providers and services,” said J.C. McWilliams, BJC Health Senior Vice President and Chief Managed Care Officer. “Our diligent efforts are aligned to best serve patients and families and ensure there is no lapse in BJC’s network participation or in-network benefits for members.”

BJC Health accepts a wide range of insurance plans, including employer-sponsored, government, and marketplace options. To confirm BJC Health is an in-network provider for a specific health plan or network, individuals can call 314-362-8400 (BJC HealthCare / St. Louis Region) or 816-932-5678 (Saint Luke’s / Kansas City Region). More information can also be found on each provider’s profile by visiting BJC.org/Find-Provider and SaintLukesKC.org/Find-Provider.

BJC Health

BJC Health is one of the largest integrated academic health care organizations in the United States and the largest private employer in the state of Missouri. It serves as a driving force for economic growth, clinical excellence, and exceptional patient care throughout the Midwest and beyond. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, BJC and its 48,000 employees operate in two regions as BJC HealthCare in the East and Saint Luke’s in the West. Its dedication to improving urban, suburban, and rural communities across Missouri, southern Illinois, and eastern Kansas is supported by more than $1.2 billion in annual community investment. BJC’s long-standing affiliation with the nationally renowned WashU Medicine powers its academic mission in the East Region, most notably at U.S. News & World Report-ranked Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital, as well as at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the state of Missouri. In the West Region, Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City serves as a primary training site for University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. BJC is consistently recognized as a great place to work, from Newsweek’s “America’s Greatest Workplaces” to Forbes’ list of “Best Large Employers.”