"When there’s a health crisis, the last thing you need to hear is that you don’t have the right health insurance coverage to protect you or your loved ones."
Julia Faller, DO, MS
Chief Medical Officer
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Turning 65? Make Roswell Park Part of Your Plan!
Check your Medicare coverage and choose a network that includes Roswell Park’s world-class cancer care. Confirm your current plan includes Roswell Park and get the peace of mind knowing you're covered by a leader in cancer care. Roswell Park belongs in your Medicare network. Watch the videos below for more information and if you still have questions, please contact one of our insurance specialists.
Don’t settle for less. Make sure you can count on the experts at Roswell Park.
When is Open Enrollment?
Depending on your type of health insurance, there are rules about when you can switch to a plan that will allow you to get care from Roswell Park doctors and at Roswell Park's hospital.
Medicare
Open enrollment period runs from October 15th through December 7th.
Job-based Plans
Open enrollment periods are determined by your employer, but are typically in the fall.
Medicaid, Essential Plan, & Child Health Plus
Enroll at any time.
NY State of Health Marketplace
Open enrollment period runs from November 1st through January 31st.
Does your insurance company cover services at Roswell Park?
Each insurance company offers many different types of products, and not all of them include Roswell Park and/or its physicians in their network of participating providers.
The list below includes insurance companies that have relationships with Roswell Park, but there are many different specific products and plans. There may be exceptions to your plan’s coverage based on the specific insurance product type, employer benefit design, and other factors. It’s important for you to verify your coverage with your insurance provider and with Roswell Park. You should review your coverage annually.
Look for your plan (or the plan you want to consider) in the list below. This is not a complete list, so if you don’t see your plan listed here, please call us at 716-845-4782.
All Health Plans and Networks
*If you are accessing Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center with one of these health plans, please be advised that you may be subject to higher out of pocket costs.
** Although Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is not directly participating with the health plan, please call us at 1-800-ROSWELL to determine if your plan allows for out of network benefits.
*** Updated Health Plan Partnerships 8/1/24
Plans can change.
Be sure you're still covered.
Current and past patients: Insurance plans may change their contracts each year. Even if your care at Roswell Park has been covered in the past, you need to verify that your coverage will continue.
Ask an expert
Open enrollment period is the time to take action if your plan does not provide adequate in-network coverage of Roswell Park hospital and doctors. Our financial counselors are ready to assist you with any of your open enrollment, health insurance and billing questions. We'll contact you if you fill out the form below or you can call us at 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355).
Prepare now to protect yourself later
Nobody expects to get cancer, but the simple truth is that one in three of us will have a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. Whether you are evaluating your current health insurance plan or considering a switch, protect your health and financial future by taking these steps:
- Check the Plan’s Provider Network. Call the health insurance company or visit its website to check the plan’s provider directory. Be sure to verify that both Roswell Park (as a hospital) and Roswell Park’s doctors are in-network. You need to be sure both are covered as the associated fees are different for your doctors (professional fees) vs the hospital at which they practice (technical fees).
- Call Roswell Park to verify in-network status and referral requirements. Double check that Roswell Park and its doctors are covered in the plan by calling Roswell Park directly — even if you are told they are in-network by the health insurance company. If you are a patient or have a diagnosis and are seeking care at Roswell Park, you need to speak with us to ensure you have complete information about what your plan allows for your doctors, our hospital and any specific treatments you may receive.
Check before you choose
Key things to know to be sure Roswell Park care is covered in your plan:
- Is Roswell Park (the hospital) in-network for this plan?
- Are Roswell Park doctors, including any specific providers I already see, in-network with this plan?
- Do I need referrals for services at Roswell Park with this plan?
- Does this plan require prior authorizations for services and treatments?
- What out-of-pocket costs can I expect for services at Roswell Park?
- What kind of cancer treatments at Roswell Park are not covered by this plan?
Click here for a list of questions to ask when calling your insurance provider
Open Enrollment FAQs
Here are some answers to some of the most common questions about open enrollment
Open enrollment is the period of time each year when you can enroll in a health insurance plan. Typically, you cannot enroll in or change plans outside the open enrollment period unless you have a qualifying life event (e.g. loss of insurance, permanent move to a new area, loss of job, divorce/marriage, or aging off parent’s plan). If you miss the Open Enrollment deadline, you won’t be able to change your insurance plan until next year’s Open Enrollment period unless you have a qualifying life event.
Yes, Roswell Park accepts both traditional Medicare and New York State Medicaid.
- If you are enrolling in a Medicare Managed Care Plan (Medicare Part C) please consider enrolling in a plan that is in-network with Roswell Park (BlueCross Blue Shield of WNY, Independent Health, MVP, and Univera Healthcare). Otherwise, if you choose a plan that is out-of-network, your plan may not cover your services at Roswell Park and/or you may have higher out-of-pocket costs.
- If you are enrolling in a Medicaid Managed Care Plan, you should select a plan that is in-network with Roswell Park (BlueCross BlueShield of WNY, Fidelis, Independent Health, and Yourcare). Otherwise, if you choose a plan that is out-of-network, all services will require prior authorization and/or you may not be able to receive services at Roswell Park.
If Roswell Park in-network, that means the insurance plan has contracted with Roswell Park to provide cancer care and services to its members. If Roswell Park is out-of-network, there is no contract. When Roswell Park is in-network, your own costs (such as co-pays or coinsurance) for your cancer care will typically be less than if Roswell Park is out-of-network. Some insurance plans will not pay for any care at Roswell Park at all if Roswell Park is out of their network.
Maybe. Some insurance plans will not pay for any care at Roswell Park at all if Roswell Park is out of their network, leaving you responsible for all costs of treatment. Some insurance plans will allow you to receive care at Roswell Park as an out-of-network provider, but this may reduce your coverage and can delay treatment.
For example, your plan may require an out-of-network authorization. This means we need a prior approval by your insurance plan for all services, before you can have testing, imaging, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or other services.
Your financial responsibility is an important factor to consider if Roswell Park is an out-of-network provider with your insurance plan. Typically, an insurance plan will pay less for services out-of-network, which leaves you responsible for a larger portion of the bill. For example, you may have 20% coinsurance for in-network services, but 40% coinsurance when you go out-of-network. In addition, you may be responsible for paying the difference between Roswell Park's charges and your insurance plan’s usual and customary rates.
If you have out-of-state insurance, check with your insurance plan to see if your plan has out-of-network benefits.
There are many factors to consider and compare when choosing an insurance plan, but two key components are coverage and cost. First, make sure the providers (your primary care doctor, specialists, hospitals such as Roswell Park, etc.) that you use are in-network and participating with the plan you choose. Second, consider the total healthcare costs (monthly premium, deductible, copays and coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum). Generally, plans with higher premiums have better coverage and lower out-of-pocket expenses.
Technical fees are billed by facilities/treatment centers/hospitals for their use of diagnostic tests, equipment etc, while professional fees are billed by the physician for their time, skills and expertise.