Ending a tense few weeks for Kansas City-area families who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, Children’s Mercy Hospital announced Tuesday it had made a deal to be in-network with UnitedHealthcare next year.
“We are pleased to work with UnitedHealthcare and provide an in-network option for families who rely on ACA Marketplace coverage,” the hospital’s statement said. “This announcement reflects a shared commitment to helping children access the specialized care they need, while providing greater choice for families selecting coverage for 2027.”
The news was welcome to Emmalyn Case, a Kansas City mom whose three children were among the 400 who had been set to lose access to the area’s only pediatric hospital.
“I’m really glad that the insurance companies and Children’s Mercy have come together to find an option that will work for Kansas Citians,” Case said in a text message sent after the hospital’s announcement. “Our community deserves to have access to good care for our kids. This is definitely a step in the right direction.”
Late last month when news broke that the hospital had not been included in any 2027 ACA plans, the backlash was harsh. A tearful Instagram post from a mom whose son is currently getting cancer treatments at the hospital went viral and sparked national media attention.
“You have to stop this, Children’s Mercy,” the mom, Kasey Jackson, said in the initial video. “You have to do something. You cannot let this happen.”
In a Tuesday evening post, Jackson, who put out a series of videos urging the hospital to come to a deal, was tearful again.
“We did it,” she said. “We did it.”
Children’s Mercy officials had said the ACA plans had chosen to exclude the hospital or “have not been willing to cover the specialized pediatric care we provide.” The insurance carriers, on the other hand, said the hospital was charging too much for reimbursements.
The only carrier that had included the hospital in 2026 plans, Medica, pulled out of the ACA market in Kansas and Kansas City-area counties on the Missouri side.
Some observers at the time told The Beacon that the public spat may have been a negotiation tactic on the part of the hospital, which has been absorbing higher prices and is bracing for coming federal funding cuts.
Case, Jackson and other Kansas City-area parents were caught in the middle.
In its most recent statement, Children’s Mercy said it “continues discussions” with additional ACA marketplace plans about in-network access.
“As a nonprofit pediatric hospital, Children’s Mercy will continue advocating for meaningful access to the specialized care children need,” the statement said.
People have until Jan. 15 to enroll in an ACA plan through HealthCare.gov. But they need to sign up by Dec. 15 for coverage to begin Jan. 1. For more information, families can visit www.ChooseChildren’sMercy.org. They can also visit the hospital’s updated website or call the hospital’s financial counselors at (816) 302-1650.
