BOSTON — September 16, 2019 — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts released the following statement today regarding Southcoast Health:

At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, we are working in partnership with hospitals and physicians across the state to moderate the growth in health care costs and collectively, we’ve been successful. Here in Massachusetts, health care costs have grown at a slower rate than the rest of the nation. But we realize that more work remains. The cost of health care remains an unsustainable burden for individuals, families and employers.

Unfortunately, the Southcoast Health system has decided to terminate its contract with us unless we agree to rate increases of nearly 30% over four years. We value the care that Southcoast physicians and hospitals provide to our members. But on behalf of our customers, we cannot agree to rate increases that will make quality health care less affordable.

We regret Southcoast’s decision to leave our network, effective Jan. 1. However, we will do everything we can to ensure that our members will continue to have access to high-quality, affordable care. Members can visit https://home.bluecrossma.com/southcoast or call our dedicated member service line at (888)404-9846 for more information.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (bluecrossma.com) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are committed to the relentless pursuit of quality, affordable health care with an unparalleled consumer experience. Consistent with our promise to always put our members first, we are rated among the nation’s best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT:   
Amy McHugh
amy.mchugh@bcbsma.com
617-246-2311