More than 10,000 area residents with Aetna insurance had to pay higher out-of-pocket costs or weren't covered at all after a contract between the hospital and company ended nearly two years ago when an agreement couldn't be reached.

The Rock Hill-based hospital will again be part of the insurance company's health-care network and accept its insurance from patients, said Charlie Miller, the hospital's president and chief executive officer.

At the time the hospital and Aetna cut ties, the company provided insurance to about 8,400 people in York County, 1,600 in Chester County and 700 in Lancaster County. The contract expired April 30, 2004.

The majority of people who could return to PMC for care would be residents who have insurance through a national company and Celanese retirees, he said.

Celanese Acetate was one of the local employers that insured employees through Aetna. The company, which made acetate filament for clothing and other products, closed its plant on Cherry Road in April.

PMC, a 288-bed hospital on Herlong Avenue, is owned by Tenet Healthcare. The hospital, with about 1,500 employees, offers medical and surgical services, obstetrical and intensive care, cardiac catheterization and cancer and emergency care.

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