Skip to content

Health insurance in Chattanooga, TN: Do Erlanger and Memorial take the same plans?

The short answer

Not always. Erlanger lists UnitedHealthcare's Tennessee exchange plan, while CommonSpirit Memorial excludes it. Erlanger lists BlueCross Networks P and S for exchange plans, and Memorial lists Network P. Memorial also ended its Wellpoint Medicare Advantage contract in 2025, while Erlanger still lists Wellpoint. Check both hospitals in any 2027 plan.

Updated

Reviewed by the licensed agents at Health Insurance Solutions in Orlando, Florida.

How we research and review

A licensed agent calls you at no cost.

Which marketplace plans do Erlanger and Memorial list?

Marketplace plans on each health system's posted list
Marketplace planErlangerMemorial Hospital
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Network PListed, including exchange plansListed
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Network SListed, including exchange plansNot listed
UnitedHealthcare Tennessee Individual Exchange planListedExcluded
AmbetterListedListed
Cigna Connect (ends after 2026)ListedNot accepted

Memorial's list covers Memorial Hospital Chattanooga and Memorial Hixson. It excludes UnitedHealthcare's Tennessee Individual Exchange Benefit plans, formerly called Compass, and says Memorial does not participate with Cigna Connect. Not listed does not prove a plan is out of network, but check first.

Neither list promises anything for 2027. Look up both hospitals and each of your doctors in the 2027 directory of the exact plan, and check the BlueCross network name, not only the insurer. Open enrollment runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027.

Which Medicare Advantage plans do the two systems list?

Memorial Hospital lists Medicare Advantage plans from Humana, BlueCross BlueAdvantage, HealthSpring and Devoted Health, and says it accepts all Medicare supplement plans. CommonSpirit says its contract with Wellpoint Medicare Advantage ended on January 15, 2025. Aetna and UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are not on the hospital's list, so check first.

Erlanger lists Medicare Advantage plans from Aetna, BlueCross BlueAdvantage, Devoted Health, HealthSpring, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, WellCare and Wellpoint. If you are changing plans, do it during the annual enrollment period, October 15 to December 7, 2026, and look up both hospitals in the 2027 plan's directory. About one in five Hamilton County residents (19.4%) is 65 or older.

How many people in Hamilton County use the marketplace?

Marketplace plan selections for 2026 (CMS)
MeasureHamilton CountyTennessee
People who picked a plan31,362569,310
Received a premium tax credit88.4%90.3%
Average monthly premium before credits$811$838
Average monthly premium after credits$154$141
Picked a silver plan41.0%37.6%

Hamilton County enrollees picked silver plans more often than the state as a whole and paid a little more after credits, on average. Census estimates put Chattanooga at 194,144 residents, with 17.3% age 65 or older and 14.3% of people under 65 without health insurance.

How can an agent help Chattanooga residents?

An agent can check Erlanger, Memorial and your own doctors in several 2027 plans at once, including the network name on BlueCross plans. If you live on the Georgia side of the Chattanooga area, you apply through Georgia Access, not HealthCare.gov, because the marketplace goes by where you live.

Health Insurance Solutions agents are licensed in 22 states and help by phone and online. Marketplace plans cost the same with or without an agent, so the comparison does not add to your premium.

Insurers and hospitals mentioned

Explore the organizations or brands discussed in this article. A mention does not mean every plan or location is covered.

Browse by state
Compare plans

See our Individual & Family plans

Major medical coverage for you and your household, with subsidies applied where you qualify.
Free tool

2027 health insurance subsidy calculator

Enter your state, household size and income to see your 2027 expected premium, your savings and whether Medicaid may apply.
Tennessee guide

Health insurance in Tennessee

Marketplace, Medicaid and Medicare rules for the whole state.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Talk to a licensed agent

We compare plans, explain the tradeoffs and help you enroll. It costs you nothing.

Get help

Common questions

Does Memorial Hospital take UnitedHealthcare marketplace plans?

Memorial excludes UnitedHealthcare's Tennessee Individual Exchange Benefit plans, formerly called Compass. Erlanger lists UnitedHealthcare's Tennessee Individual Exchange Benefit Plan.

Is Memorial in network with Cigna?

For employer plans, yes. CommonSpirit says a new agreement keeps Memorial in network for members of employer Cigna Open Access and LocalPlus plans, retroactive to February 1, 2026. Memorial does not take Cigna Connect, and Cigna's individual plans end after 2026.

Does Memorial take Wellpoint Medicare Advantage?

No, according to CommonSpirit. Its contract with Wellpoint Medicare Advantage ended on January 15, 2025. Erlanger still lists Wellpoint Medicare Advantage plans.

Is Bradley Medical Center in Cleveland back in network with UnitedHealthcare?

Starting November 1, 2026, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The new agreement covers UnitedHealthcare employer, marketplace, Medicare Advantage and TennCare plans. Medicare Advantage access was restored earlier, in May 2026.

Sources

Rules change. Confirm dates and eligibility with your marketplace, your state Medicaid agency or Medicare before you enroll.

All articles