Maybe you’ve read that one of the best ways to save on health care costs is to “stay in network.” But you’re not sure what that means.

You’re not alone. Many people find the term confusing. We’re here to help you understand what in-network means for you.

How our network helps you save

A network is a group of health care providers. It includes doctors, specialists, dentists, hospitals and other facilities. These health care providers have a contract with us. As part of the contract, they provide services to our members at a lower rate.

This contract rate is usually much lower than what the doctor would charge if you were not an Aetna member.  And the network doctor agrees to accept the contract rate as payment. You pay your coinsurance or copay, along with your deductible.

So what does this all mean? It means you have access to the care you need at a lower price. And the difference in cost can be huge — for the same type of service or procedure.

How much you can save

You can see detailed examples of how much you might save – on the same service – just by staying in network.

Check out information for:

Medical Services:  Save money with Aetna’s provider network flyer

Behavioral Health Services:  Save money with Aetna’s provider network flyer

Find doctors and hospitals in the network

It’s easy to look up in-network doctors and hospitals with our directory. It’s a good idea to check every time you make an appointment. If you’re already registered for your secure member website, log in to see your personalized directory.

See what you pay for out-of-network rates

There may be times when you decide to visit a doctor or hospital not in the Aetna network. Usually, your costs are higher for care out of the network. Get more information on paying for care from out-of-network doctors and hospitals.