Kettering Health Is Dropping Anthem Medicare Advantage in 2027: What to Do
Kettering Health announced it will not renew its contract with Anthem Medicare Advantage, so Kettering becomes out-of-network for Anthem Medicare Advantage (including Anthem MyCare) on January 1, 2027. You can still use your Anthem plan at Kettering through December 31, 2026. The timing matters: open enrollment is open now (October 15 to December 7), and that is your window to switch for January 1, so you do not want to wait.
Have the letter? Upload it and we explain it free. Want us to find which plan keeps your Kettering doctors and covers your drugs? Decision Support does the research for a flat $99. CareRoute is independent, does not sell insurance, and takes no commissions.
What is happening
Kettering Health, the western-Ohio system of medical centers and outpatient locations, said it could not reach contract terms with Anthem that addressed claim denials and reimbursement it describes as below traditional Medicare, so it is ending the Medicare Advantage relationship. Here is what that means in plain terms:
- Kettering is out-of-network for Anthem Medicare Advantage, including Anthem MyCare, starting January 1, 2027.
- Your Anthem Medicare Advantage plan is still in-network at Kettering through December 31, 2026.
- Kettering says it will still accept Original (traditional) Medicare and several other Medicare Advantage plans (it has not published the full list).
The timing that matters most
Because Kettering is leaving the network and your Anthem plan itself is not ending, you generally do not get an open-ended special window to switch. Act while open enrollment is open.
Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 to December 7
This is your window. Switch to a plan Kettering accepts, or to Original Medicare with a Part D drug plan (and, if you want, a Medigap policy), with coverage starting January 1, 2027. Enroll by December 7.
A hospital leaving does not automatically open a special window
There is a narrow, case-by-case Special Enrollment Period for a significant change in your plan’s provider network, but you have to request it by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and it is not guaranteed. Do not count on being able to switch after December 7, plan to act during open enrollment.
If you are in the middle of treatment
If you are in an active course of treatment with a Kettering provider (for example, cancer care, a planned surgery, or a complex condition), ask Anthem about a continuity-of-care period that may let you keep seeing that provider at in-network cost for a transition time.
- Continuity of care is limited, varies by plan, and is not automatic, you generally have to request it.
- Call the member number on your Anthem card and ask exactly how long you can keep your Kettering provider and what it will cost.
- It buys time, it is not a permanent fix, so still use open enrollment to line up coverage that keeps Kettering if that matters to you.
Your options, and how to pick the right one
The core question is simple to ask and tedious to answer: of the plans available to you, which ones keep your Kettering doctors in-network and cover your specific drugs? You have three main paths:
1. Switch to a plan Kettering accepts
Another Medicare Advantage plan that is in-network with Kettering, chosen during open enrollment. Verify twice: the plan’s directory and a call to the Kettering billing or scheduling office.
2. Move to Original Medicare
Original Medicare with a Part D drug plan (and optionally a Medigap policy) is not tied to a network, so you can see any provider who accepts Medicare, including Kettering. Whether it fits depends on your costs, drugs, and any Medigap enrollment rules.
3. Keep Anthem and use a different in-network hospital
If your Anthem plan otherwise works for you, you can keep it and use hospitals and doctors that remain in its network. Check that the providers you rely on are still covered.
Have us find the plan that keeps Kettering
For a flat $99, CareRoute Decision Support researches the plans available to you and checks each one against your specific doctors and drugs, verifying provider participation directly, not just trusting the directory. We are independent and take no commissions, so the analysis is on your side and you make the call. Have your Kettering or Anthem letter? Upload it to our free Letter Check first and we explain it in plain language.
CareRoute is independent, does not sell insurance, and takes no commissions.
Already got an out-of-network bill?
If you were treated at Kettering after your plan went out-of-network and received a large bill, do not assume it is final. Out-of-network and balance-billing charges often contain errors or amounts that can be reduced. CareRoute Bill Defense reviews the bill and negotiates it on your behalf, free to start, you only pay if we reduce it.
Get my bill reviewedFrequently asked questions
Is Kettering Health really dropping Anthem Medicare Advantage?
Yes. In October 2026, Kettering Health announced it will not renew its Medicare Advantage contract with Anthem. Kettering goes out-of-network for Anthem Medicare Advantage, including Anthem MyCare, on January 1, 2027. You can still use your Anthem Medicare Advantage plan at Kettering through December 31, 2026. Details can change, so confirm with Kettering and with Anthem.
Can I keep seeing my Kettering doctors if I have Anthem Medicare Advantage?
After January 1, 2027, Kettering will be out-of-network for Anthem Medicare Advantage, so care there may cost more or may not be covered. You have a few options: switch during open enrollment (October 15 to December 7) to a plan Kettering accepts or to Original Medicare, or, if you are in active treatment, ask Anthem about a continuity-of-care period. Continuity of care is limited, varies by plan, and you generally have to request it, so call the number on your Anthem card to ask the exact terms.
Do I get a special window to switch plans because Kettering is leaving?
Not automatically. A hospital leaving your plan’s network does not by itself open a Special Enrollment Period. Your reliable window is the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, with new coverage starting January 1. There is a narrow, case-by-case Special Enrollment Period for a significant network change, but you must request it by calling 1-800-MEDICARE and it is not guaranteed. The safest move is to act during open enrollment while the window is open.
What plans does Kettering Health still accept?
Kettering has said it will continue to accept Original (traditional) Medicare and several other Medicare Advantage plans, though it has not published the full list. Which specific plan would keep your Kettering doctors and cover your prescriptions is exactly the question our Decision Support researches for you, against your doctors and your drugs.
What if I already got a bill because Kettering was out-of-network?
If you received care at Kettering after your plan went out-of-network and got a large bill, have it reviewed before you pay. Out-of-network and balance-billing situations often contain errors or amounts that can be reduced. CareRoute Bill Defense reviews the bill and negotiates it on your behalf, free to start, and you only pay if we reduce it.
Is CareRoute trying to sell me a Medicare plan?
No. CareRoute is independent, does not sell insurance, and takes no commissions. Our free Medicare Letter Check explains the notice you received in plain language, and Decision Support ($99) researches which of the plans available to you keep your specific doctors and cover your specific drugs. You decide; we never steer you to a particular plan or insurer.
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Sources & references
This is general information, not insurance advice, and not a recommendation of any specific plan or insurer. The Kettering Health and Anthem details above are as announced in October 2026 and could change; confirm the current status with Kettering Health, with Anthem (the number on your card), or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Continuity-of-care terms and enrollment windows are set by federal rules and by each plan and vary. Last updated: October 2026.