Changes to Independent Health coverage at Roswell Park

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Some Independent Health members will no longer have coverage at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center starting in 2026.

Beginning on Jan. 1, people who are enrolled in Independent Health’s individual Medicare Advantage plans will no longer be in-network for Roswell’s services. The changes come as health insurers nationwide are changing their offerings.

In a statement, Independent Health said that despite “extensive” negotiations with Roswell Park, Roswell Park chose not to participate in the individual Medicare plans.

“Significant challenges are impacting Medicare Advantage plans across the country, including Independent Health, which are causing all of us to make changes to our plan offerings,” the company said. “We had been working with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center on a new agreement for Roswell Park and its community network practices to continue as participating providers in our individual Medicare Advantage plans for 2026. Unfortunately, despite extensive negotiations, Roswell Park chose not to participate in our individual Medicare Advantage plans starting January 1, 2026.

“While Roswell Park will not participate with our 2026 individual Medicare plans, it will remain participating with our group Medicare plans as well as Commercial, State and Self-funded lines of business.”

Leaders at Roswell Park told WIVB News 4 that the decision was made with their patients in mind.

“They were going to be shifting a significant amount of cost back to the patients, so that is of great concern to us because we want to make sure our patients have full access to Roswell Park and the exceptional care that we deliver here,” said Dr. Julia Faller, chief medical officer at Roswell Park. “We want to make sure that our patients have access and we’re here to answer questions, we’re making sure that there are resources easily available for them. Our staff are ready to answer questions and ready to direct patients to where they need to go to ensure that they have access to our care here.”

For more details on what plans are in-network at Roswell Park, click here.