Blue Cross adds Northwestern Medicine to network

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and Northwestern Medicine announced a partnership Wednesday that gives members of the medical insurer's major plans full access to Northwestern's network of 10 hospitals and 4,000 physicians.

Members of the Blue Choice Preferred PPO and Medicare Advantage HMO plans will be able to receive in-network services at Northwestern Medicine facilities beginning Jan. 1, 2020, according to a statement from both agencies.

The new arrangement gives Blue Cross customers expanded access to affordable, high-quality primary and specialty care close to where they live and work, officials said,

"By partnering with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, we are able to bring exceptional patient care to more patients, in more areas of Illinois by offering a network that provides access to all Northwestern Medicine hospitals, affiliated providers and outpatient care centers," said Dean M. Harrison, President and CEO of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare.

The Blue Choice PPO is one of the plans available through the Affordable Care Act's insurance marketplace, healthcare.gov. Open enrollment for 2020 closes Sunday.

"We are focused on increasing access to providers based on quality and performance indicators" said Steve Hamman, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.

Northwestern Medicine's flagship hospital, Northwestern Memorial in Chicago, was named the top hospital in the state by U.S. News & World Report. Its suburban network includes Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Delnor Hospital in Geneva, Lake Forest Hospital, Huntley Hospital, McHenry Hospital and Woodstock Hospital. Northwestern also has more than 200 clinics across the city and suburbs.