Updates: Notice to Patients with BCBS/Anthem and Cigna

Anthem / Blue Cross & Blue Shield

Cole Dermatology ended its contractual agreement with Anthem/BCBS in February 2025 and has since been out-of-network with the insurance carrier. Due to increasing costs of medical practice and the unsustainable reimbursement rates offered for ONE of their networks, we asked Anthem to selectively opt-out of it while remaining in-network with their remaining plans. Anthem was unwilling to allow us to do that, despite the practice being common in the healthcare industry. Unfortunately, this lead us to making the difficult decision to end our in-network status with ALL Anthem plans. Hopefully, through our continued efforts, as well as those of our independent physician association, an acceptable arrangement can eventually be negotiated. Until then, we strongly apologize to our patients with Anthem insurance. We understand the frustration caused by increasing insurance premiums as benefits become fewer, networks become smaller, and out-of-pockets costs continue to rise.

If you have out-of-network benefits*, we can still file you medical claim to Anthem. Please call our office if you would like additional information about this. We can also discuss other options, including our self pay rates or transferring your records to another provider group in-network with Anthem.

* For patients with BCBS/Anthem Medicare Advantage through State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) of Georgia, your plan allows you to see ANY Medicare provider whether they are in- or out-of-network with BCBS (with no cost-share difference). This perk is also a feature of some other BCBS plans (including retirees of Southern Company, etc). Regardless of your plan's specific details, we continue to see many patients with BCBS - both those with out-of-network benefits and those without that specific coverage. For more information, contact BCBS at the number on the back of your insurance card or call our office with your insurance information and we can assist you in determining your out-of-network coverage.

Lastly, if you have frustrations or concerns, we gladly stand by to hear your feedback. However, we strongly encourage you to also call Anthem (rebranded as Elevance Health, Inc. in 2022) and express to them how their decisions are impacting your health care coverage.

Cigna Healthcare

As of April 1, 2026, Cole Dermatology will be out-of-network with Cigna Healthcare. Unfortuantely, the increasing costs of medical practice and the limited reimbursement rates offered by Cigna have made it unsustainable for us to remain in their network. We hope to find a solution that works for both parties, but until then, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our patients with Cigna insurance. Please call our office if we can be of assistance or answer any questions. For patients with out-of-network benefits, we can still file your claim to Cigna. For those patients without this coverage, we can offer self-pay rates, as well as discuss alternative arrangements.

While we are happy to hear feedback on this decision, please also let your insurance carrier know about any of your frustrations or concerns and how their decisions impact your healthcare.