What is happening between Ballad and BlueCross?
Ballad says it is negotiating with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee over commercial, Marketplace, Medicare Advantage and BlueCare products. In its October 28 statement, Ballad said some members could lose in-network access to Ballad doctors and services on January 1, 2027 if the organizations do not reach an agreement.
This is a potential change, not a completed departure. In its November 9 update (opens in a new tab), Ballad said negotiations were continuing. Check that update and the number on your insurance card for the latest status before making a decision.
The disagreement is about access to certain providers, not an automatic cancellation of your insurance. A plan can still exist even if a hospital or doctor leaves its network. Whether a particular appointment or service is covered depends on your policy and the date of care.
Which type of coverage do you have?
| Coverage | Your first step |
|---|---|
| BlueCare (TennCare) | Ask TennCare about changing health plans and confirm that your doctors participate in the replacement. Ballad says TennCare eligibility itself is not lost because of this negotiation. |
| BlueCross Medicare Advantage | Ask your plan and Ballad about your exact 2027 plan. Compare other Medicare options during the applicable enrollment period if you want to make a change. |
| BlueCross Marketplace | Check the full 2027 plan name and network. A provider-file listing is a starting point, not a guarantee while negotiations are unresolved. |
| Coverage through work | Ask your benefits administrator which network your employer uses and whether you can change your election. Deadlines vary by employer. |
If I have BlueCare, can I change TennCare plans?
Ballad says that if a BlueCare agreement is not reached, TennCare members may be able to change plans and keep their Ballad doctors. On November 9, Ballad said its facilities and Ballad Health Medical Associates doctors were in network with the other TennCare plans in the region, including UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee and Wellpoint Tennessee. Confirm your own doctor, services and plan before changing.
TennCare's plan-change instructions (opens in a new tab) describe a general change window within 90 days of coverage starting or during your region's open-enrollment month. East Tennessee's listed month is July. Ask TennCare whether an exception applies to your situation; do not assume a switch will be automatic.
Call TennCare Member Medical Appeals at 1-800-878-3192 or use TennCare Connect as directed by TennCare. Ask when a change would take effect and whether the replacement covers each doctor and ongoing service. Ballad also gives patients 833-822-5523 for questions about access.
Where can I check a Ballad hospital on this site?
Start with our records for Johnson City Medical Center and Franklin Woods Community Hospital. Each page identifies the facility and lets you explore the 2027 Marketplace plan listings we found in public insurer files.
For example, the BlueCross provider file dated October 28 lists Johnson City Medical Center with the 2027 Marketplace plan BlueCross B15E HSA + $0 virtual care from Teladoc Health, standard plan ID 14002TN0400239. We checked the public files on November 7. The listing is not a Medicare Advantage or BlueCare directory and does not settle the ongoing contract negotiation.
A public file can be incomplete or lag a contract update. Even if your plan appears, ask BlueCross and the hospital whether the exact plan, location, doctors and date of care will be in network. A plan missing from our page is not necessarily out of network.
What if I have Medicare Advantage?
Check the plan name, not just the insurance company's name. In a separate November 5 announcement (opens in a new tab), Ballad and UnitedHealthcare said they reached a multiyear agreement for continued network access for UnitedHealthcare individual and group retiree Medicare Advantage members. That announcement does not resolve the BlueCross negotiation or establish that every UnitedHealthcare plan is available to you.
Use Medicare's plan comparison tool (opens in a new tab) to look for 2027 plans available in your area and compare costs and prescriptions. Then ask the plan and Ballad about your exact hospital, physicians and proposed care. We do not offer every plan that may be listed.
Medicare's annual enrollment period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026; a change made during that period generally starts January 1, 2027. Other enrollment periods have different rules. Medicare explains when you can join or change plans (opens in a new tab).
What if my coverage is through work or the Marketplace?
If you have coverage through work, ask your benefits office for your network name and the employer's election deadline. Tennessee's Partners for Health program says Ballad could leave its BlueCross networks S and P on January 1 if there is no agreement. For eligible members of that state employee and retiree program, its network update and revision instructions (opens in a new tab) describe a one-time request deadline of December 1, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. Central. State program members can call Benefits Administration at 1-800-253-9981. That deadline is not a rule for every employer.
For an individual Marketplace plan through HealthCare.gov, you can preview 2027 plans and prices (opens in a new tab). Choose by December 15, 2026 and pay the first premium for coverage to start January 1. Compare the exact network, premium, deductible and medications before replacing coverage.
Have your plan name or ID, the hospital location, your doctors' names and any scheduled service date ready when you call. Ask for the answer and any transition-of-care instructions in writing. Do not cancel needed care or existing coverage until you understand your options.
Insurers and hospitals mentioned
Explore the organizations or brands discussed in this article. A mention does not mean every plan or location is covered.
- Hospital · TennesseeFranklin Woods Community Hospital
- Hospital · TennesseeJohnson City Medical Center
- Insurer · TennesseeBlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
- Medicare Advantage · TennesseeBlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
- Medicare Advantage · TennesseeUnitedHealthcare
See our Individual & Family plans
Major medical coverage for you and your household, with subsidies applied where you qualify.We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
Compare coverage with your doctors in mind
A licensed agent can help you compare the Medicare Advantage or Marketplace plans we offer where we are licensed, including questions to ask about your hospital and doctors. We do not offer every plan. For BlueCare plan changes, contact TennCare directly.