Starting January 1, 2020, we’re making changes to the Core network in our Puget Sound and Northern Washington service areas. These changes are part of our ongoing efforts to bring more members into Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care system.
What’s changing?
- We are eliminating a group of primary care, ob-gyn, and pharmacy network providers in our Core Commercial and Medicare Advantage HMO networks in Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, Kitsap, and King counties.
- The Medicare Advantage individual HMO network will be reduced in Whatcom and Skagit counties and consolidated into 3 community provider groups.
- Kaiser Permanente will no longer participate as an HMO health care carrier in San Juan County, and HMO plans will no longer be offered in San Juan County beginning in 2020.
These changes will impact approximately 10,000 of our nearly 700,000 members.
How will members be notified?
Affected members will receive letters later this month. In addition, our Member Services team will make outreach calls in October and November to explain the changes, answer questions, and help transition care if needed. Members currently receiving care as part of a specific referral from an affected provider will be able to complete their care. These network changes will be reflected in our 2020 plan offerings.
Have questions?
Our sales team will be reaching out to producers who have clients affected by these changes. In the meantime, if you have questions about the information we’ll be sharing in the coming weeks and months, please contact our sales team Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
- Individual and Family plans, call 1-800-474-1079
- Medicare plans, call 1-800-581-8252
- Small Group plans, call 1-800-542-6312, option 3
- Large Group plans, call 1-800-542-6312, option 4