Frontier parts with United Healthcare
Rachel Brand, Rocky Mountain News
Published October 5, 2006 at midnight
United Healthcare's contract dispute with the HealthOne hospital system is one reason Denver's Frontier Airlines said it dropped the giant insurance carrier Tuesday.
"We were already engaged in the review process," said Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas. "Certainly that played a role because what we're looking for is how broad the coverage is."
A contract between HealthOne and United Healthcare expired Sept. 1, making HealthOne's seven hospitals and 10 outpatient surgery centers out-of-network for 850,000 United Healthcare members. In November, HealthOne's 19 outpatient radiology centers also will be out of network.
The airline will use Cigna Healthcare of Colorado for its 5,000 employees starting Jan. 1.
Also on Jan. 1, HealthOne will switch to Cigna from United Healthcare subsidiary Pacificare. The move affects about 8,000 workers and family members.
"Suffice to say we are having a very successful selling season for January 1st," said Cigna Colorado President Daryl Edmonds. The carrier currently covers about 300,000 Colorado patients and expects double-digit growth for next year.
A United Healthcare representative said that several large employers have renewed for next year, including Coram Healthcare, Qwest Communications and Adams County.
brandr@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5269
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