Anthem says: “Sentara is demanding 30% increases over the next three years.”		 The facts: Misleading. Sentara originally proposed a 6.2% single-year rate adjustment, blended across all lines of business with Anthem that includes commercial and governmental plans. Anthem’s statement implies a significant increase across all lines of business. The commercial portion was less than 30%. 
  • On commercial plans, Sentara’s current proposal is an annual average rate increase of 7.2% over four years.

Anthem says: Sentara “hasn’t been at the negotiating table” and that Sentara must “negotiate in good faith.”		 The facts: False. Sentara has been at the negotiating table for nearly a year, and we are continuing to negotiate in good faith on commercial plans.
  • Sentara has sent Anthem 4 different proposals. We have responded to Anthem’s counterproposals within an average of 16 days, while Anthem’s average response time has been 74 days.
  • Sentara has met and communicated with Anthem representatives on a weekly basis since the beginning of the year.

Anthem says: Sentara is “refusing to negotiate for vulnerable patients on Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and ACA plans” and is “holding patients hostage.”		 The facts: False. Sentara spent 9 months negotiating on all lines of business. Anthem repeatedly requested a decrease for most of these plans, looking to pay less for patients’ care. 
  • Anthem left us no choice but to give them a deadline on these lines of business so that our patients could understand all their options during Open Enrollment.
  • Anthem proposed to decrease what it was paying Sentara for some of our most vulnerable populations including senior citizens with Medicare Advantage. At the same time, they have been underpaying Sentara for this care. Essentially, paying Sentara less than traditional Medicare fee for service.

Anthem says: “Sentara threatens your healthcare access.”		  The facts: False. Anthem’s refusal to negotiate in good faith threatens its members’ ability to access their preferred providers. 
  • As a not-for-profit, mission-driven system, we will continue caring for all of our patients.
  • You can keep seeing your Sentara doctors at in-network rates through at least December 31, 2026, depending on your plan and personal health conditions, and possibly longer. What insurance does Sentara take?
  • Patients in cancer treatment, under pregnancy care, and with other life-threatening conditions can keep their care team into 2027.
  • Emergency care is always covered, at any hospital.

Anthem says: “Sentara rejects industry-standard language that stops overbilling.”		 The facts: False. The problem is Anthem not paying what it owes providers.
  • Anthem owes Sentara more than $141 million for care already provided.
  • Sentara objects to Anthem denying payment after care is given and changing contract terms on its own.

Anthem says: “Sentara Norfolk General posted a 29.5% profit margin in 2024, double the 14% national median.”		 

The facts: False. SNGH's profit margin was not even close to Anthem's claim, nor is the national profit margin median anywhere close to their stated 14%. (100 hospital financial benchmarks | 2026)

  • Cherry-picking the financials of one hospital within a large system that operates 12 hospitals and 400+ sites of care, and posting an incorrect statistic around the hospital industry's financials is disingenuous and misleading. (Note: We use generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in our financial reporting.)
  • Some of our hospitals make money, but more importantly, some lose money every year and as a mission-driven not-for-profit, we continue to operate them for the benefit of the community.
  • Anthem, on the other hand, is a highly profitable, for-profit company, whose parent company, Elevance Health, reported nearly $5.7 billion in profit in 2025. Additionally, on October 21, 2026, Elevance Health’s Q3 earnings report exceeded analyst expectations with actual operating revenue and earnings per share (EPS) higher than estimated, causing an improvement in full-year guidance and immediate increase in stock prices.

Anthem says: Sentara Health plans raises “questions about its true motives.”		  The facts: False. Sentara Health Plans is not part of these talks.
  • Sentara Health Plans is run separately and has no role in the negotiations.
  • Sentara has worked for nearly a year to stay in Anthem’s network for Anthem’s own members.
  • Sentara also works with Aetna, Cigna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare, amongst others.
  • We are actively negotiating with other payors to ensure affordable access for our communities. In fact, we just announced a new partnership with Aetna.

Anthem says: Anthem is putting forward meaningful movement in their proposals. Sentara is not moving.		 The facts: False. Sentara has made significant concessions on its proposals while Anthem has made virtually no movement.
  • Anthem is stalling by only moving by miniscule amounts. For example, their last proposal was a .1% increase.

Anthem says: Anthem has proposed payment rates that align with those of other major Virginia health systems.		 The facts: False. Anthem reimburses Sentara’s competitors up to 45% more for inpatient services for the exact same service.
  • By not negotiating with Sentara in good faith, Anthem is removing lower cost options from their member’s provider network.

Anthem isn’t paying what it owes

  • As of October 1, Anthem owes Sentara over $141 million for care that has already been provided to Anthem members. Anthem has cancelled all scheduled meetings intended to address outstanding payment issues with Sentara.
  • Approximately sixty percent of Anthem’s clients are self-insured employers who fund their own healthcare, with Anthem serving as their claim’s administrator. Despite this administrative role, Anthem is currently withholding $141 million owed to Sentara.

Anthem is making this harder, not easier

  • On September 28, the same day Anthem gave a public update on talks, it canceled every remaining meeting this year set up to address unpaid claims.
  • Since August, Sentara has asked Anthem to plan together for continuity of care for patients in active treatment. Anthem has refused.
  • Anthem decided to early terminate a contract with Sentara related to kidney and heart transplants patients. Such action puts vulnerable patients at risk, compromising their health, safety, and well-being.

Anthem can afford to pay – and is choosing to spend elsewhere

  • Anthem’s parent company, Elevance Health, made nearly $5.7 billion in profit in 2025. It spent $1.1 billion buying back its own stock in the first three months of 2026.
  • And in recent news: Elevance Health beats estimates, raises guidance
  • It is also paying for the ads and flyers attacking Sentara, through Health Action Network, which describes itself as “an Elevance Health Inc. initiative.”
  • Anthem has said publicly that price increases will ultimately come out of employer and family budgets.

Additional questions and answers to keep you informed

The 22.7% figure is an average increase and will vary by member location, since Sentara Health Plans offers coverage statewide. Sentara's 2026 premiums started from the lowest base in the state. The increase reflects several factors affecting the entire individual insurance market that are not unique to Sentara, including rising medical costs, higher utilization of services, and the reinstatement of the state-permitted tobacco use surcharge after a temporary one-year prohibition expired. For 2027, Sentara expects to remain the lowest- or second-lowest-cost option in most regions of the state.

It's also important to note that Sentara Health Plans and Sentara's care delivery system (i.e., hospitals and physician practices) are separate, independently operated parts of the organization. Sentara Health Plans' premium filings are unrelated to and have no bearing on Sentara’s contract negotiations with Anthem.
Any increase in premiums would be Anthem’s choice, not an automatic consequence of Sentara’s proposal. Anthem has made clear that it intends to pass along any increases to its members, especially employer groups, rather than absorb them or reduce its shareholder payouts. Anthem is a highly profitable, for-profit company and how it chooses to allocate those costs is a decision Anthem is making, not one Sentara is making for it. 
The Health Action Network is an initiative created and supported by Elevance Health, the parent company of Anthem. Instead of using their increasing profits to fairly pay healthcare providers like Sentara the cost of delivering high-quality care, they have instead invested that money in marketing campaigns targeting Virginians who only want to be able to access the care they deserve.