We have been working for several months to secure a new contract with UnitedHealthcare. Unless we reach an agreement soon, Baptist Health hospitals, outpatient clinics and Baptist Health Medical Group practices will be out of network with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans after December 31, 2023.
 
We wanted to inform you right away so you can be thinking about the Medicare Advantage plan that is right for you in 2024.

The most important issue in our discussions with UnitedHealthcare has been to protect your relationship with your physician/clinician and your access to the care you may need. It is our experience that many Medicare Advantage plans – including UnitedHealthcare – routinely deny or delay approval or payment for medical care recommended by your physician, meaning UnitedHealthcare believes they know better than your own doctor what kind of care you need. We disagree. We believe your need for medical care should be determined by you and your doctor, not an insurance company. We are working hard on new agreements that protect your right to the care that’s appropriate for you.

There are a couple of things you can do.
 
First, you can help us work on your behalf by calling UnitedHealthcare at the number on the back of your health insurance card. Ask UnitedHealthcare to reach a new agreement that maintains your in-network access to Baptist Health and protects the relationship you have with your doctor.
 
Second, during the upcoming Medicare Advantage open enrollment period (October 15 to December 7, 2023), you may have the ability to choose an alternative insurance plan for your coverage beginning in 2024. View a list of plans that are in network with Baptist Health.

All Baptist Health hospitals, outpatient clinics and Baptist Health Medical Group practices would be out of network with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans after December 31, 2023 if an agreement isn’t reached.

Nothing changes today. We are in network until the end of the year, so please keep your appointments.

We hope to reach an agreement with UnitedHealthcare before the end of the year to avoid an out-of-network period. We believe UnitedHealthcare shares the same goal. As long as we are making progress in our discussions with UnitedHealthcare, we will continue to schedule appointments into 2024. We will keep you informed of any changes through this website.

During the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period (October 15 to December 7, 2023), you may have the ability to choose an alternative insurance plan for your coverage beginning in 2024. Click here for a list of plans that are in network with Baptist Health.

We hope to secure new agreements with UnitedHealthcare, but it is an evolving process.

The most important issue in our discussions with UnitedHealthcare has been to protect your relationship with your physician/clinician and access to the care you may need. It is our experience that many Medicare Advantage plans – including UnitedHealthcare – routinely deny or delay approval or payment for medical care recommended by your physician, meaning UnitedHealthcare believes they know better than your own doctor what kind of care you need. We disagree. We believe your need for medical care should be determined by you and your doctor, not an insurance company. We are working hard on new agreements that protect your right to the care that’s appropriate for you.