FAQs about our negotiation with Ascension Wisconsin

We are actively meeting with Ascension in an effort to renew our relationship. We want to keep Ascension in our network and are committed to engaging in productive negotiation.

We remain committed to working with Ascension and requested an extension to the contract that would allow both organizations additional time to reach an agreement without creating stress and anxiety for our members. Ascension refused.

We will remain at the negotiating table with Ascension for as long as it takes to reach an agreement that provides the people we serve continued access to care that is both quality and affordable.

In the event we are unable to reach an agreement, Ascension’s hospitals and providers throughout southeastern Wisconsin will be out of network for people enrolled in the following plans, effective Oct. 1, 2025:

  • Employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans
  • Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP)
  • UnitedHealthcare Community Plans in Wisconsin (Medicaid)

Optum Behavioral Health is not impacted by this negotiation and will continue to remain in-network with Ascension Wisconsin, regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.

The negotiation impacts the following hospitals:

  • Ascension All Saints Hospital
  • Ascension Calumet Hospital
  • Ascension NE Wisconsin Hospital
  • Ascension NE Wisconsin Hospital - Mercy Campus
  • Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital
  • Ascension St. Francis Hospital
  • Ascension Wisconsin Hospital - Menomonee Falls
  • Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital - Milwaukee
  • Ascension Columbia St Mary's Hospital - Ozaukee
  • Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin

Yes. This negotiation only impacts Ascension’s provider locations in Wisconsin.

This negotiation impacts members enrolled in the following plans:

  • Employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans
  • Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP)
  • UnitedHealthcare Community Plans in Wisconsin (Medicaid)

Optum Behavioral Health is not impacted by this negotiation and will continue to remain in-network with Ascension Wisconsin, regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.

People enrolled in our Medicare Advantage PPO and Group Retiree plans may receive care from an out-of-network provider, if the provider is a Medicare participating provider which accepts the plan.

If people have a Group Retiree PPO plan, their share of the cost is typically the same as if the provider was part of the network.

Members enrolled in our Medicare Advantage PPO and Group Retiree plans are encouraged to speak with the provider to confirm they will provide care, regardless of their network status.

For support finding in-network hospitals, members can call the customer care number on their health plan ID card or visit their plan’s website:

If we are unable to renew our agreement with Ascension, our members will continue to have access to a broad network of hospitals and providers across the Milwaukee region and Fox Valley regions, including, but not limited to: 

  • Aurora Health Care Metro
  • Aurora Medical Center Burlington
  • Aurora Medical Center Fond Du Lac
  • Aurora Medical Center Grafton
  • Aurora Medical Center Hartford
  • Aurora Medical Center Kenosha
  • Aurora Medical Center Mount Pleasant
  • Aurora Medical Center of Oshkosh
  • Aurora West Allis Medical Center
  • Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
  • Fox Valley Hospital-Children's Wisconsin
  • Froedtert Community Hospital
  • Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital
  • Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital
  • Froedtert South
  • Froedtert West Bend Hospital
  • Holy Family Memorial
  • ProHealth Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital
  • ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital
  • SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital
  • SSM Health St Agnes Hospital - Fond Du Lac
  • SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital
  • ThedaCare Medical Center-Berlin
  • ThedaCare Medical Center-New London
  • ThedaCare Regional Med Center-Appleton
  • ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah

For support finding in-network hospitals, members can call the customer care number on their health plan ID card or visit their plan’s website:

UnitedHealthcare members who are in the middle of treatment at an Ascension hospital or with an Ascension health provider may qualify for continuity of care, which provides continued in-network benefits for a specified period of time after a hospital or physician leaves our network.

Examples of patients who may qualify include:

  • Women who are pregnant
  • Patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed cancer, or those currently in active cancer treatment.

Members who have questions about continuity of care should call the number on their health plan ID card.

UnitedHealthcare members should always go to the nearest hospital in the event of an emergency. Their services will be covered at the in-network benefit level, regardless of whether the hospital participates in UnitedHealthcare’s network.

For support finding in-network hospitals, members can call the customer care number on their health plan ID card or visit their plan’s website: