WashU, BJC doctors will accept UnitedHealthcare marketplace plans, despite website error

ST. LOUIS — Washington University physicians will accept health insurance sold by UnitedHealthcare on the Affordable Care Act individual marketplace — even though the system's doctors are not currently listed on the ACA website as being "in network" for 2026.

But they are in network, said Abeeha Shamshad, spokesperson for WashU Medicine.

"All WashU Medicine physicians participate in UnitedHealthcare (UHC) individual and family plans offered on Healthcare.gov in Missouri and Illinois," she said in an email Wednesday.

She suggested UnitedHealthcare was the blame for the discrepancy.

"UHC is responsible for updating Healthcare.gov to ensure that WashU Medicine physicians are accurately listed," Shamshad said.

Cole Manbeck, spokesperson for UnitedHealthcare, said in a statement that agreements with WashU and BJC were finalized recently.

"We are in the process of updating our directories accordingly, which will then be shared ... to update Healthcare.gov," he said.

"All BJC hospitals, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital, facilities and physicians as well as Washington University physicians are participating providers for our Individual Family Plan (IFP)," Manbeck said in an email.

Individual marketplace plans sold on Healthcare.gov can be purchased by consumers who aren't covered through their employer or programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.

Shamshad, the WashU spokesperson, said patients can confirm WashU medicine physicians are in-network by checking WashU Medicine's website or by contacting (314) 273-0880 or [email protected] for assistance.

WashU has a longstanding partnership with BJC Health System, which recently announced an agreement with UnitedHealthcare on the Affordable Care Act plans for 2026.

BJC facilities such as Missouri Baptist Medical Center and Barnes-Jewish Hospital do show up as in UnitedHealthcare's network on Healthcare.gov.

But some BJC health care providers didn't show up as in-network on Wednesday.

Laura High, spokesperson for BJC, said BJC providers and hospitals are participating in the UnitedHealthcare plans.

"If any BJC or WashU providers aren’t listed, inquiries should be directed to United regarding status of their website listings or for insights as to when the federal government’s website listings will be updated," High said.

In addition, BJC Customer Service for its east region can be reached at (314) 362-8400.

Open enrollment on Healthcare.gov for 2026 began on Nov. 1 and lasts until Dec. 15 for coverage that begins at the start of the year. Policies can be purchased until Jan. 15 for plans that start Feb. 1.

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Aetna said earlier this year it would pull out of the ACA marketplace for 2026.

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A spokesperson for BJC tied the move to the organization's 2024 merger with St. Luke's Health System of Kansas City.

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A failure by both sides to reach an agreement had left patients in limbo.

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