SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Scripps Health and Anthem Blue Cross officially parted ways on Jan. 1, 2025, leaving about 125,000 patients uncertain of what their healthcare will look like in 2025.
Many people, like Lisa Schmidt, were looking forward to a fresh start in the new year, but not like this.
“If you would have told me this six months ago, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt tells me she has a number of chronic conditions that require care from several specialists — most of which she says work under Scripps Health.
“I’ll be honest, it ruined my holidays,” she said.
She say the stress from the ongoing negotiations has taken its toll. “I’m the sickest I’ve ever been in my life like every day is a struggle.”
About 125,000 patients like Schmidt will no longer be able to receive in-network care through Anthem Blue Cross from Scripps Health.
“I thought I had a really good care team,” Schmidt said. “I’m really discouraged right now.”
Some Anthem HMO members can continue seeing their primary care doctors until Feb. 21, but Schmidt says that’s not enough.