UnitedHealthcare Contract Negotiation
Unless UnitedHealthcare agrees to fair terms by June 30, Health First will be forced out of network for United members beginning July 1, 2026.
Updated June 17, 2026
We hold all payors to the same standard: fair contracts that help ensure patients can access the care they need. Health First is asking United for fair reimbursement and terms that protect access to local care.
We know this creates concern for our patients and families. Being forced out of United’s network is not the outcome we want. We are working to reach an agreement, but United has not offered reimbursement rates and contract terms that keep pace with the rising cost of providing care. Health First physicians have not received a reimbursement increase from UnitedHealthcare in more than five years.
During that same period, UnitedHealth Group reported more than $86 billion in profit. United has the resources to support fair reimbursement without asking patients to pay more.
Throughout this negotiation, we are committed to giving you clear information about what is happening, what it may mean for your care, and how you can advocate to keep Health First in network.
Related UnitedHealthcare news and contract updates
Across the country, hospitals and health systems have raised similar concerns about UnitedHealthcare’s reimbursement, denial practices, prior authorization requirements and administrative burden.
- BayCare and UnitedHealthcare reach new agreement in Florida
- BayCare Health System announced a new multi-year agreement with UnitedHealthcare that protects in-network access to BayCare physicians, facilities and services.
- Duke Health raises concerns about UnitedHealthcare denial practices
- In 2024, Duke Health said UnitedHealthcare denied payment for care more often than other national insurance carriers and that Duke overturned most of those denials after significant effort.
- ECU Health and UnitedHealthcare negotiations affect patient access in North Carolina
- ECU Health has raised concerns that UnitedHealthcare reimbursement has not kept pace with the cost of care. ECU’s public update states that some ECU Health Medical Group physicians may no longer be in network with UnitedHealthcare as of April 29, 2026, with hospital, clinic and facility impacts possible later depending on plan type and contract timing.
- Main Line Health and UnitedHealthcare remain in active negotiation in Pennsylvania
- Main Line Health has stated that its UnitedHealthcare agreement is set to end June 30, 2026, and that the negotiation includes reimbursement, delays, denials, prior authorization, administrative burden and audit activity.
- Federal judge orders discovery in UnitedHealth AI denial case
- A federal magistrate judge ordered UnitedHealth Group to produce documents in an ongoing lawsuit alleging the use of an AI algorithm to wrongfully deny Medicare Advantage members post-acute care. The case remains pending.
What you can do.
- Call UnitedHealthcare. Call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask United to keep Health First in network.
- Contact your employer or HR team if your insurance is through work. Let them know you want a benefits plan that includes reliable in-network access to Health First.
- Ask United about Continuity of Care if you have ongoing care needs. If you are pregnant, in active treatment, or receiving care for a serious or chronic condition, call United to ask whether you qualify for Continuity of Care.
Frequently Asked Questions
When a hospital system works with an insurance company, they become part of the insurance company’s network. Both organizations sign a contract that defines how they will work together.
The contract includes the rates the insurance company pays the hospital or physician for services and procedures. These are called payment rates or reimbursement rates.
The contract also includes rules that can affect when and how patients receive care, including prior authorization requirements, claims processes, denials and appeals.
These terms matter because they can affect patient access, care team workload, out-of-pocket costs and the ability of local hospitals and physicians to continue providing care for the community.
Health First and UnitedHealthcare are negotiating the terms of our current contract, which outlines how United reimburses Health First hospitals, physicians and providers for care.
Like hospitals across the country, Health First is facing significant increases in the cost of staff, supplies and services. Since 2020, our costs to support and deliver patient care have increased by 39%, but United’s payment rates have not kept pace. During that same time, United has not increased reimbursement rates for Health First physicians.
Health First is asking United for fair terms that reflect the cost of delivering care and help protect local access for patients and families in our community.
United’s current policies can delay care, create confusion and increase out-of-pocket costs for patients.
Health First physicians and care teams are seeing the impact of unnecessary barriers, including delays, denials, prior authorization requirements and unresolved appeals.
- United has denied and rejected physician judgment in ways that conflict with established medical guidelines.
- Some appeals have remained unresolved since spring 2025.
- More than one in five denied United claims now remain unresolved for more than 90 days.
- These practices force care teams to spend more time navigating paperwork instead of focusing on patients.
Health First is asking United to remove unnecessary barriers and support timely access to care.
Yes.
Health First has reviewed publicly available price transparency data to understand how United reimburses other healthcare providers in the region for similar services. That data supports that Health First’s reimbursement requests are reasonable.
Health First is also asking United to address delays, denials and administrative requirements that make care more difficult for patients, physicians and care teams.
We believe fair reimbursement and fewer unnecessary barriers are reasonable expectations of any insurance partner.
All UnitedHealthcare members who use Health First are impacted by this negotiation.
If United does not agree to fair terms by June 30, 2026, all Health First hospitals, physician practices, outpatient locations, facilities and services would be out of network for United members beginning July 1, 2026.
Because each United plan is different, members should call United at the number on the back of their insurance card to understand how their specific benefits, coverage and out-of-pocket costs may be affected.
All Health First services, facilities, physicians and providers are included in this negotiation.
If a new agreement is not reached by June 30, 2026, United members would no longer have in-network access to Health First for non-emergency care beginning July 1, 2026.
The current contract ends June 30, 2026.
If United does not agree to fair terms by that date, Health First will be forced out of network beginning July 1, 2026. Most impacted United members would pay higher out-of-pocket costs to continue receiving non-emergency care from Health First, or they may need to choose providers outside of Health First.
No. For now, nothing has changed.
Patients should keep their current appointments and continue scheduling new appointments with their Health First physicians and providers.
If an agreement is not reached, patients should contact United before attending or scheduling appointments after June 30, 2026, to understand how their coverage and out-of-pocket costs may change.
If Health First is forced out of United’s network, most impacted United members will have to pay more out of pocket to continue seeing Health First physicians and providers for non-emergency care.
Call United at the number on the back of your insurance card to understand your out-of-network benefits and how your specific plan may be affected.
If you receive insurance through your employer, you may also want to contact your HR or benefits team and ask what plan options include Health First in network.
We understand how concerning this is, especially for patients with ongoing or serious care needs.
Some patients may qualify for Continuity of Care, which may allow them to continue seeing their current Health First physicians and providers at in-network rates for a limited time, even if Health First is forced out of network.
United is responsible for reviewing Continuity of Care requests and determining eligibility. To help avoid disruption to your care, call United at the number on the back of your insurance card and ask how to apply.
You will always have access to emergency care at Health First.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a medical emergency, go to the nearest emergency department or call 911. Emergency care is covered regardless of whether Health First is in network.
Our goal is to reach an agreement as quickly as possible.
A new contract must be established by June 30, 2026, or Health First will be forced out of UnitedHealthcare’s network beginning July 1, 2026.
Call UnitedHealthcare at the number on the back of your insurance card. United can explain how your specific benefits plan may be affected if Health First is forced out of network.
You can also continue to check this page for updates.