OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The contract between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska and Catholic Health Initiatives’ UniNet has expired without a new agreement. UniNet represents CHI Health facilities across Nebraska. Starting today (Monday) people who visit doctors or hospitals in Nebraska associated with the CHI Health network will have to pay more if they have insurance from Blue Cross. CHI Health’s Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, should not be directly affected, but Iowa residents with Blue Cross policies who seek treatment in Nebraska would be.

Blue Cross says CHI Health, which used to be called Alegent Creighton Health, routinely charges 10 to 30 percent more than other Omaha hospitals. CHI Health says those figures are misleading and it believes its total cost of treatment is lower, even if certain services cost more.