Access to care — at home or when traveling — is one of the top priorities for health care consumers. To continue to improve our members’ experience getting high-quality care outside Washington, we’re partnering with Aetna Signature Administrators to make the Aetna PPO network available to Kaiser Permanente members. This change will offer members a greater range of care options across 49 states — with access to 1.9 million participating physicians and ancillary providers, including over 10,000 hospitals.
Beginning March 1, 2025, commercial plan members who need care while traveling will have access to the Aetna PPO network.
- For Access PPO, Summit PPO, and Elect PPO plan members, Aetna PPO network providers will be considered in-network for care received outside Washington state and outside Kootenai and Latah counties in Idaho.
- HMO plan members will have access to Aetna PPO network providers for urgent and emergency care outside Washington state and outside Kootenai and Latah counties in Idaho.
This network change does not affect Kaiser Permanente Washington Medicare Advantage members and certain self-funded groups. Self-funded groups who are interested in providing Aetna network access to their employees can contact their Kaiser Permanente account representative for more information.
Authorizations and continuity of care
To ensure members’ continuity of care, we will accept active authorizations from the previous out-of-area provider network (First Choice or First Health) after March 1, 2025. Claims incurred on or before February 28, 2025, will be paid based upon existing contracts.
Members who have utilized nonurgent care within the past 12 months (March 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025) or who have an active authorization will receive a letter from Kaiser Permanente, informing them of the network change. We will also assure members that any active authorizations issued for care by providers in our current extended networks will be honored after March 1, 2025.
For more information and details:
Network overview
Access PPO Network flyer
Options Network flyer
Summit PPO Network flyer
Core Network flyer
Care while traveling overview
Access PPO Travel flyer
Summit PPO Travel flyer
Core and SoundChoice Travel flyer
Plans offered and underwritten by Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington or Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington Options, Inc.