Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Open enrollment is quickly approaching, when many of us decide our healthcare for the coming year.
There is a significant change for some Independent Health members.
Members enrolled in Independent Health's Medicare Advantage plan, will no longer have Roswell Park in-network starting Jan. 1, 2026.
"I think it's really important to clarify this. There were no negotiations," said Dr. Candace Johnson, Roswell Park CEO, told WBEN on Monday.
Johnson says she had no choice.
"If we left them in-network, out of pocket patient payments could be two or three fold or greater. And we didn't think it was fair to our patients. This is not something that we wanted or that any of us like, at all," she noted.
The move affects approximately 5,000-to-6,000 patients.
The confusing part is that many Independent Health patients will continue to have access to Roswell Park. Only the Independent Health Medicare Advantage patients will not, as of Jan. 1.
"We're trying to educate these patients to get them switched to a plan that does offer Roswell Park. We have a call line available to them.
(1-800-Roswell.) We were in a very tough situation. There were no negotiations. We were told this," she insisted.
New York State Sen. Patrick Gallivan is asking Independent Health to reconsider this. But is it too late? Johnson says it is never too late.
"I would love to sit down with Independent Health and come to a deal that is much better for these patients."
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