Sentara, Aetna Expand Partnership to Virginia Members
The expanded agreement gives Aetna Medicare Advantage and Medicaid members access to Sentara's providers, hospitals, and care sites across its system.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Healthcare
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Sentara Health's Acute and Ambulatory Divisions are rolling out an expanded partnership with Aetna, with the agreement taking effect on January 1, 2027. Aetna Medicare Advantage and Aetna Better Health of Virginia Medicaid members will gain full access to Sentara's care providers, hospitals, and sites of care across the system.
Why it matters
Sentara says the partnership is an important step toward filling insurance coverage gaps for Virginians. Sentara is also in-network for Aetna commercial members.
The agreement takes effect January 1, 2027, and covers Aetna Medicare Advantage and Aetna Better Health of Virginia Medicaid members. The source does not report how many members are affected or the financial terms of the deal.
The players
Sentara Health
Sentara Health is a Virginia-based nonprofit integrated healthcare system operating hospitals, physician practices, and health plans across Virginia and parts of North Carolina.
Aetna
Aetna is a major U.S. health insurance company, a subsidiary of CVS Health, that offers Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and commercial coverage plans.
The details
Access is provided through an agreement covering Sentara's providers, hospitals, and sites of care across the entire system. Sentara's Acute and Ambulatory Divisions are rolling out the expanded partnership, which also keeps Sentara in-network for Aetna commercial members.
Timeline
January 1, 2027: The expanded Sentara-Aetna partnership takes effect for Medicare Advantage and Medicaid members.
Industry Landscape
The agreement follows a broader pattern in which insurers such as Aetna negotiate wider in-network access with regional health systems for Medicare Advantage and Medicaid enrollees. It mirrors similar network expansions seen across state markets as payers compete to fill coverage gaps.
Aetna Medicare Advantage and Aetna Better Health of Virginia Medicaid members will be able to see Sentara providers, hospitals, and sites of care across the system starting in 2027. Members should confirm their plan's network details before scheduling care after the effective date.
The takeaway
Insurance network changes can determine which hospitals and doctors are available to members, so reviewing plan network listings before the January 1, 2027 effective date can help avoid surprises in care access.
What happens next
The expanded Sentara-Aetna partnership takes effect January 1, 2027.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore more Healthcare news in the business section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WAVY-TV 10 Hampton Roads.
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