BayCare
Our goal is to renew our network relationship with BayCare while providing people access to affordable care
We are actively negotiating with BayCare to renew our network relationship while providing continued, uninterrupted network access to the health system. For now, nothing changes. People continue to have network access to BayCare’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians.
However, if we are unable to reach an agreement, BayCare will be out of network for these benefit plans on the following dates:
June 1, 2026:
- UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored commercial plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Group Retiree plans
June 15, 2026:
- Medicaid (UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Florida)
Negotiating with health systems is a routine part of health plans and health systems working together. We negotiate thousands of contracts each year, and the vast majority are resolved with no disruption to in-network care. Unfortunately, a small number of health systems choose to negotiate publicly, putting their patients in the middle of these discussions as potential leverage to obtain the price increases they are seeking.
That is the case with BayCare, which declined our proposal to extend our contract and is seeking significant price hikes that would increase health care costs for families and employers.
We want people to have continued access to BayCare. However, we have a responsibility to ensure that access is affordable. Health care costs are directly affected by the reimbursement we negotiate with health systems in our network. One of the leading drivers of rising health care costs are the prices hospitals charge.
We are proposing rate increases that continue to reimburse BayCare similar to its peers throughout the region while balancing the need for affordable care for hard-working families and employers already struggling during challenging economic times.
As we continue our discussions with BayCare, we want to share important information with you below so you are prepared with the information you need should the health system choose to leave our network.
Frequently asked questions
Our top priority is to reach an agreement that is affordable for people and employers while maintaining continued, uninterrupted network access to BayCare. However, in the event we are unable to renew our relationship, BayCare would be out of network on the following dates for these plans:
June 1, 2026:
- UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored commercial plans
- Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Group Retiree plans
June 15, 2026:
- Medicaid (UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Florida)
In the event we are unable to reach an agreement, BayCare would be out of network on the following dates for these plans:
June 1, 2026:
- UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored commercial plans
- Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Group Retiree plans
June 15, 2026:
- Medicaid (UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Florida)
Yes. We are actively engaged in discussions with BayCare and continue to exchange proposals. Our top priority is to reach an agreement that is affordable for people and employers while maintaining continued, uninterrupted network access to the health system.
Continuity of care allows UnitedHealthcare members in active treatment for a serious or complex condition with a provider at the time they left our network to continue receiving in-network benefits with their provider for 90 days after they went out of network.
Some examples of conditions eligible for continuity of care include but are not limited to:
- Patients who are pregnant
- People currently in active cancer treatment
UnitedHealthcare members must apply and be approved for continuity of care. They should call the number on their health plan ID card if they need assistance or have questions. Our dedicated team of advocates are ready to support them every step of the way.
People enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare Group Retiree PPO plan may still receive care at BayCare as an out-of-network provider should they agree to see them.
The share of the cost will be the same for Group Retiree PPO members as if the provider was part of the network. We encourage UnitedHealthcare Group Retiree members to speak with BayCare to confirm they’ll continue to see them, regardless of their network status.
For additional information about our Group Retiree plan as well as information on how to find a provider, UnitedHealthcare members should go to retiree.uhc.com.
The people we serve will continue to have access to a large network of providers throughout the Tampa Bay area should BayCare leave our network. Some examples of hospitals that remain in our network in the region include but are not limited to:
- Advent Health Carrollwood
- AdventHealth Dade City
- Advent Health Lake Wales
- AdventHealth North Pinellas
- AdventHealth Riverview
- AdventHealth Tampa
- AdventHealth Wauchula
- AdventHealth Wesley Chapel
- AdventHealth ZephyrHills
- HCA Florida Bayonet Poiont Hospital
- HCA Florida Blake Hospital
- HCA Florida Brandon Hospital
- HCA Florida Largo Hospital
- HCA Florida Northside Hospital
- HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital
- HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital
- HCA Florida St. Petersburg Hospital
- HCA Florida Trinity Hospital
- HCA Florida West Tampa Hospital
- Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
- Lakeland Regional Medical Center
- Largo Medical Center
- Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital
- Tampa General Hospital
- TGH Brooksville
- TGH Spring Hill
UnitedHealthcare members should call the number on their health plan ID card if they need assistance finding another provider. They can also use the provider directory on our member website to search for alternative hospitals and doctors.
UnitedHealthcare members should go to the nearest hospital in the event of an emergency. Their care will be covered at the in-network benefit level, regardless of whether the hospital participates in our network.