Florida Blue and NCH reach an agreement

Reporter: Olivia Jean
Published: Updated:

With a few hours to spare, the Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) and Florida Blue have reached an agreement after months of negotiations.

According to Florida Blue, NCH is fighting for higher financial compensation, specifically a 30% increase over the next three years. Florida Blue said that’s too much.

The deadline to reach an agreement was slated for midnight on Monday.

In a statement Friday evening, Florida Blue’s West Florida Market President stated:

“We are pleased to announce that Florida Blue and Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) have reached a multi-year agreement and ensure that there will be no disruption to the members and patients we both serve. Our members will continue to have in network access to NCH doctors, hospitals, and facilities. As we’ve proudly done for 80 years, Florida Blue looks forward to delivering affordable health solutions and serving the needs of Collier County”.

Around 40,000 people insured by Florida Blue, while also using NCH, can sigh relief.

If negotiations were to go sour, Florida Blue customers who use NCH for their health care would have to do the following:

  1. Going to have to find a new doctor who accepts Florida Blue.
  2. Pay higher costs out of pocket for the same care at NCH.
  3. Find new insurance.

It remains unclear if those 40,000 customers will have to pay more out of pocket following this deal.

WINK News has contacted both Florida Blue and NCH for a statement and more details regarding the deal.

We are currently waiting for a response.

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