North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health Notifies Patients of Medicare Advantage Changes

North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health Corporation made the difficult decision to terminate its participation with Aetna Medicare Advantage effective October 1, 2024. 

This determination followed several years of advocating for contractual protections and commitments from Aetna to honor its members’ basic Medicare benefits. NKCH and MH offers high quality care and believes our Medicare Advantage partners should consistently follow Medicare rules to cover and pay for its members’ Medicare benefits. This change follows a national trend of health systems across the country dropping Aetna and other Medicare Advantage plans.

NKCH and MH recognizes annual changes in Medicare Advantage plans create uncertainty for patients. Our health system will continue to allow patients with Aetna Medicare Advantage to schedule appointments with their physician clinics through December 2024.

“We believe this decision is in the best long-term interests of our patients,” said Amy Crawford, NKCH vice president of revenue cycle and managed care. “This provides patients with an opportunity to compare plans before Medicare open enrollment. We are happy to guide the community through these changes.”

To learn more, register for a community class on Medicare enrollment options or read more about NKCH’s relationship with Aetna Medicare Advantage, visit nkch.org/AetnaMA.
 

About North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health

For more than 65 years, North Kansas City Hospital has been the Northland’s preferred healthcare provider. Our mission is to provide hope and healing to every life we touch.

NKCH is an acute care facility with 451 licensed beds and more than 600 physicians representing 49 medical specialties. From our award-winning cardiovascular and orthopedic programs to our cancer, emergency, neuroscience, spine, women’s and other services, we provide a lifetime of care.

Through our Meritas Health subsidiary, NKCH offers the largest network of provider practices in the Northland, with more than 280 primary and specialty care doctors and advanced practice providers in over 35 convenient locations, including an express care clinic in the 64th Street Hy-Vee store.

Our accreditations demonstrate our commitment to providing quality healthcare, including:

• American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet® designation

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services four-star rating

• The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval® and certification for Comprehensive Cardiac Center, Advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement, Primary Stroke Center and Wound Care Management Certification 

Our mission, vision and values reflect a strong commitment to the health and well-being of our employees, the Northland community and beyond. U.S. News & World Report ranked NKCH High Performing in seven adult procedures and conditions, as well as Maternity Care, and named NKCH a Best Regional Hospital. Forbes honored NKCH as one of America’s Best Employers in 2024, ranking NKCH and MH a top 20 employer in Missouri, and among the Best Employers for Women in the nation.

Each year NKCH serves more than 12,000 people through its dynamic Community Health & Wellness programs.