Important Update on Your UnitedHealthcare Insurance Coverage
At UConn Health, our priority is providing high-quality care to our patients and community. We’re committed to innovating, expanding, and maintaining financial health. Now, it’s time for health insurers like UnitedHealthcare to do their part. Join us in encouraging UnitedHealthcare to agree to a fair contract for both us and the people of Connecticut.
While we continue to negotiate in good faith toward a new agreement with UnitedHealthcare, if an agreement is not reached, UConn Health, including UConn Medical Group and UConn John Dempsey Hospital, will be out-of-network with UnitedHealthcare effective February 1, 2026.*
*UnitedHealthcare patients receiving behavioral health services under Optum Behavioral Health will remain in-network until March 31, 2026, under a separate agreement.
As the state’s only public academic medical center, we are proud to deliver advanced care, train future physicians, and serve patients regardless of complexity or circumstance. Like health systems across the country, we face rising costs in labor, supplies, and infrastructure. Fair and sustainable agreements with insurers are critical to ensuring we can continue to serve our patients and communities without interruption.
We remain committed to finding a resolution, but we also want to ensure you have the information you need to plan for your care.
What You Can Do
- Call UnitedHealthcare. Using the number on the back of your insurance card, call UnitedHealthcare directly and, with a sense of urgency, ask them to negotiate to protect your access to care—just as we are doing. Let UnitedHealthcare know how vital it is to have in-network access to your trusted providers at UConn Health.
- Apply for Continuity of Care benefits. If you are in an active course of treatment for a serious or life-threatening illness, are in your second or third trimester of pregnancy, or are in your postoperative period, you may be eligible to continue receiving care at in-network rates beyond January 31, 2026. We urge you to contact UnitedHealthcare to ask about your options to start the Continuity of Care process.
Important: Emergency care is always covered at in-network rates. If you or a loved one experiences a medical emergency, please go to the nearest emergency room, including UConn John Dempsey Hospital.
FAQS for Patients
How does this impact me?
You can continue to see your UConn Health doctors, receive services at UConn John Dempsey Hospital, and receive care as you normally would through January 31, 2026. If an agreement is not reached, UConn Health will be out-of-network with UnitedHealthcare effective February 1, 2026.
Why is UConn Health negotiating with UnitedHealthcare?
We have been working with UnitedHealthcare for several months to secure a fair contract that adequately covers the true cost of delivering high-quality care. UnitedHealthcare reimburses UConn Health at a rate that is amongst the lowest when compared to other health systems across the state, despite our excellent quality, safety, and outcomes. As Connecticut’s only public academic medical center, we are committed to continuing our service to this community, and we urge UnitedHealthcare to prioritize its members’ access to the providers they know and trust.
What happens after January 31, 2026?
If an agreement is not reached, UConn Health will be out-of-network with UnitedHealthcare, meaning your out-of-pocket costs could increase. However, some patients may qualify for Continuity of Care benefits, allowing them to continue treatment at in-network rates for a limited time. Contact UnitedHealthcare to see if you qualify.
What are Continuity of Care benefits?
Continuity of Care benefits allow patients to continue receiving care at in-network rates for a period of time, even if their provider is out-of-network with their health insurance company. Typically, patients who are either undergoing treatment for cancer or another critical illness, are in their second or third trimester of pregnancy, or who are in their postoperative period, may be eligible for Continuity of Care benefits. Contact UnitedHealthcare by calling the number on the back of your insurance card to learn more about your coverage.
Should I start canceling my appointments now?
We are continuing to negotiate for a new agreement with UnitedHealthcare. You will continue to have in-network access through January 31, 2026, and should keep any appointments you have scheduled through that date. There may be a need to cancel appointments for dates on or after February 1, 2026, if we have not reached an agreement with UnitedHealthcare in the coming weeks. Please call your provider’s office as soon as possible if you wish to keep any appointments beyond January 31 using your out-of-network benefits or to pay directly out of pocket.
What if I have out-of-network benefits?
You will maintain in-network coverage through January 31, 2026. If an agreement is not reached by that date and you wish to seek care after January 31, please contact UnitedHealthcare to inquire about your out-of-network benefits. After January 31, seeking care at UConn Health may result in higher out-of-pocket costs to you. Please call your provider’s office as soon as possible if you wish to keep any appointments beyond January 31 using your out-of-network benefits.
What if I am visiting UConn Health for behavioral health services?
UnitedHealthcare patients receiving behavioral health services under Optum Behavioral Health are not impacted by this termination. They can continue to receive care under a separate agreement until March 31, 2026.
Can I still go to UConn John Dempsey Hospital in an emergency?
Yes! Emergency care is always covered at in-network rates and is not affected by the negotiation. If you or a loved one experiences a medical emergency, please go to the nearest emergency room, which includes UConn John Dempsey Hospital.
How can I help?
You can help by calling UnitedHealthcare and letting them know how important it is to keep UConn Health in-network. Their phone number can be found on the back of your insurance card.
For more details and updates, call us at 860-679-0199.
We appreciate your trust in us and remain committed to providing you with the highest quality care.
FAQS for Providers
Does UnitedHealthcare’s possible contract termination with UConn Health impact both its inpatient and outpatient providers?
Yes, this would impact all providers across UConn Health inpatient and outpatient facilities, as negotiations with UnitedHealthcare relate to our managed care contracts for both UConn John Dempsey Hospital and UConn Medical Group. As a result, our hospital and all UConn Health providers would be deemed out-of-network for UnitedHealthcare health plan patients starting January 31, 2026.
Could I still admit my UnitedHealthcare patients in need to UConn John Dempsey Hospital?
Without an agreement by January 31, 2026, any admissions on or after February 1 would be out of network, and UnitedHealthcare patients should not be admitted. In rare exceptions, patients may give us written consent to use their out-of-network benefits. Out-of-network benefits must be confirmed in advance, prior to admission.
The remaining exception to this exclusion is if your patient has been approved for Continuity of Care; in that case, the patient would remain in-network at UConn Health on or after February 1 for a limited period of time.
Providers who have admitting rights at other hospitals will still be considered out-of-network at those facilities on or after February 1 and would need to obtain advanced patient consent for use of their out-of-network benefits to perform services at those facilities. If the patient has no out-of-network benefits, those admissions should be declined, as there will be no source of payment for services rendered.
What could contract termination mean for my current patients with UnitedHealthcare insurance?
Out-of-network benefits depend on the health insurance plan, but typically, patients can expect to pay more for care, up to and including 100% of the costs out of their pockets. In the event we do not reach an agreement before January 31, 2026, patients should contact UnitedHealthcare to learn more about their out-of-network benefits before seeking care at UConn Health.
Does UnitedHealthcare’s possible contract termination with UConn Health impact its Behavioral Health providers?
UnitedHealthcare patients receiving behavioral health services under Optum Behavioral Health are not impacted by this termination. They can continue to receive care under a separate agreement until March 31, 2026.
What if my patients still need my care?
If we are unable to reach an agreement with UnitedHealthcare, patients who are not qualified for continuity of care and who do not choose to use their out-of-network benefits should be transitioned to a non-UConn Health provider. A limited number of patients may be eligible to remain at UConn Health for continuity of care at in-network rates, including those in active treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition, their second or third trimester of pregnancy, or their post-operative period. Should the need arise for your patient to initiate a continuity of care request with UnitedHealthcare, they can visit the UnitedHealthcare website and navigate to their Contact us page or call UnitedHealthcare at the Member Services number listed on their ID card.