Kettering Health to Drop Anthem Medicare Advantage in 2027. What Happens Next?

If you have an Anthem Medicare Advantage plan and receive care through Kettering Health, there's an important coverage change you should know about before 2027.

On October 6, Kettering Health announced that it would not renew its contract with Anthem Medicare Advantage, including Anthem MyCare. The change is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027, which could affect whether patients can continue seeing their current Kettering Health doctors and hospitals at in-network rates.

With Medicare Open Enrollment beginning October 15, now is a good time to understand what this means for your coverage.

Why Is Kettering Health Ending Its Anthem Contract?

According to Kettering Health's official announcement, the decision involves disagreements over reimbursement rates, claim denials and administrative requirements.

Anthem has said it wants to continue negotiations and reach an agreement that keeps Kettering Health in its network.

For patients, the important part isn't necessarily why the two organizations disagree. It's understanding how the outcome could affect access to the doctors, specialists and hospitals they rely on.

What Happens to Anthem Medicare Advantage Patients?

For now, Kettering Health remains in-network with Anthem Medicare Advantage through December 31, 2026.

If a new agreement isn't reached, affected patients could lose in-network access to Kettering Health beginning January 1, 2027.

That doesn't automatically mean you lose your Medicare Advantage coverage. However, continuing to see your current providers could become more expensive or may not be covered, depending on your plan and the services you need.

Kettering Health has indicated that it will notify affected patients and will continue accepting Original Medicare and several other Medicare Advantage plans.

Before You Make a Change to Your Coverage

If you currently see a Kettering Health doctor or specialist, start by finding out whether they'll still be in your Anthem network next year. Your plan's Annual Notice of Change is worth reviewing, too, particularly for changes to costs and benefits.

If keeping your current doctors is important to you, this may be a good time to compare other Medicare Advantage plans available in your area. Just remember that provider access is only one part of the picture. You'll also want to consider your prescriptions, premiums and other out-of-pocket costs before making a decision.

And because Anthem and Kettering Health could still reach an agreement, keep an eye out for updates before making any changes to your coverage.

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026, with changes generally taking effect January 1, 2027.

As Medicare.gov explains, this is the annual opportunity to review coverage and make changes for the coming year.

Have Questions About Your Anthem Medicare Coverage?

If you're affected by the Kettering Health and Anthem announcement, you don't have to sort through your options alone.

Medicare Resource Center can help you understand your coverage, review available Medicare plans and compare options based on the doctors, prescriptions and benefits that matter to you.

Talk with a licensed Medicare Pro to get help reviewing your 2027 Medicare coverage before Open Enrollment ends December 7.