Prime Healthcare and Blue Cross Illinois Reach Agreement to Stay In-Network, Ensuring Patient Access
Prime Healthcare, which operates nine hospitals in Illinois, has reached an agreement with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois to remain in-network, following months of uncertainty. This decision comes after Blue Cross had previously informed its members that Prime would be out-of-network starting June 1, 2026. The agreement ensures that patients with Blue Cross insurance will continue to have access to Prime's hospitals without facing increased costs or needing to find new healthcare providers. Prime Healthcare, a for-profit company based in California, acquired eight hospitals from Ascension in March 2025 and recently completed the purchase of a ninth hospital, Franciscan Health Olympia Fields. The renegotiation of contracts between health systems and insurers is a common practice, determining the payment rates for medical services. 
