Frequently asked questions

What does it mean that HealthPartners and Essentia Health are combining?

HealthPartners and Essentia Health have signed an affiliation agreement to combine into a single, Minnesota-based nonprofit health system focused on improving health and well-being across the upper Midwest.

Over the next few months, we’ll work with regulators as they review our plans to combine. Pending regulatory review and approvals, our goal is to complete the combination as of Jan. 1, 2027, after which we'll begin operating as one organization.

Why are Essentia Health and HealthPartners combining?

The health care industry is facing significant financial headwinds. Costs continue to rise faster than reimbursement, while aging communities and growing rates of illness are increasing demand for care. We are two healthy, growing organizations with complementary strengths. Combining our capabilities and resources will create a stronger platform to innovate, improve affordability and keep high-quality care close to home, with local needs and relationships at the center.

What does this mean for patients?

We know our patients want health care to be simpler to understand, easier to access, better connected and more affordable. Our combination will result in more choices, better coordination of care, broader access and a better experience for those we serve.

Patients can continue to rely on the same clinics, hospitals and care teams you know and trust. There are no changes to your appointments, how you access your medical information or how you communicate with your care teams.

What does this mean for HealthPartners health plan members?

This combination is about making care and coverage work better for the people we serve, including our 1.6 million medical and dental plan members.

Members will continue to have broad access to care. We expect to maintain strong relationships with contracted providers across the five-state region and, through Cigna, nationwide. Members should not experience any changes or interruptions to your health plan coverage or benefits. You can always contact our Member Services team using the phone number on your member ID card with questions about your coverage.

What does this mean for colleagues?

Our 45,000 colleagues will have access to expanded career pathways, educational opportunities, academic partnerships and shared expertise across a larger integrated organization. By bringing together the strengths of both organizations, we can create an even stronger place to learn, grow and build a career.

HealthPartners and Essentia Health are committed to working in good faith with labor organizations. Existing collective bargaining agreements will be honored, and their terms and conditions will remain in effect. Any contracts that are currently open for negotiation will continue to be negotiated in good faith, as they are today.

How will this combination make care more affordable?

The combination will help address affordability through better coordination, shared expertise, aligned investments and less complexity over time. Bringing care and coverage together across a larger integrated system will also support new care and payment models that deliver better value.

How will this combination improve quality?

HealthPartners and Essentia Health consistently outperform state and national benchmarks for clinical quality measures. Together, we will accelerate advancements in integrated care delivery and scale solutions faster across the region.

Our clinicians and care teams will be supported by a more integrated care system, broader clinical expertise, stronger practice support, expanded research and better tools, including telehealth, remote monitoring and data analytics. These capabilities can help clinicians deliver timely, coordinated, high-quality care.

How will this combination strengthen rural and community health?

Patients and communities will benefit from greater access to specialists, advanced clinical programs, telehealth and coordinated care. We're committed to maintaining strong local care teams and community relationships built over decades of partnership.

What happens next? When do you expect regulatory approvals?

For our patients, members and colleagues, nothing changes today. HealthPartners and Essentia Health will continue to operate separately for the next few months while we move through the review process. Pending regulatory review and approvals, our goal is to complete the combination as of Jan. 1, 2027, after which we'll begin operating as one organization.