Ascension will stop offering health insurance plans in Texas

Ascension will no longer offer a health insurance plan to Texans starting January 1, 2025.

Ascension operates hospitals in various U.S. states, including several in central Texas. It also offers several insurance plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace under the Ascension Personalized Care banner. The plans are offered through the US Health and Life Insurance Company, which is owned by Ascension.

However, Texas policyholders received notices this week that Ascension Personalized Care would no longer offer coverage after the end of the year.

An Ascension spokesperson said the decision to end Ascension Personalized Care coverage in Texas was not related to the ransomware attack that hit the health system in May, but did not immediately provide an explanation for the change. KUT previously reported that the ransomware attack caused problems with billing and claims processing for Ascension personalized care plans.

Ascension representatives also would not confirm whether policyholders in states other than Texas would lose coverage.

Texans currently enrolled in Ascension Personalized Care will have the opportunity to enroll in a new insurance plan during the 2025 open enrollment period, which begins in November.

A representative of the Texas Department of Insurance said the American Health and Life Insurance Company filed an opt-out plan in April, alerting the state agency that its health plans would end on Dec. 31.

“If you receive a non-renewal notice, we encourage you to immediately begin researching other health plans and plan to make a selection before your current coverage ends,” said Ben Gonzalez, communications representative for the Department.