City of Hope in California

We are actively negotiating in good faith to renew our network relationship with City of Hope in California

We are engaged in good-faith discussions with City of Hope (COH) to renew our network relationship. Our goal is to reach an agreement that is affordable for consumers and employers in Southern California, while providing continued, uninterrupted network access to COH.

In the event we are unable to reach an agreement, City of Hope National Medical Center, City of Hope Medical Foundation providers, and COH’s clinical care locations in California will be out of network for people enrolled in the following plans, effective Jan. 1, 2026:

  • Employer-sponsored commercial plans
  • Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree plans

Facts you should know

We have tremendous respect for COH and the quality care it provides to our members who are living with cancer. That’s why we’re working hard to reach an agreement that is affordable while providing continued, long-term network access to the health system.

We value and appreciate the profound impact COH has on the lives of people living with cancer, including their families. Many of our own employees and their families have been impacted by cancer. We want people to have access to the best care possible.

However, we also have a responsibility to make sure that care is affordable so it’s accessible for all the members we serve.

That is why we are proposing market-competitive rates that will continue to reimburse COH fairly while slowing the unsustainable rise in health care costs.

Our goal during this negotiation is the same as our members – to help them access the care they need and to make health care as affordable as possible.

Should we not reach an agreement, our number one priority is providing the people we serve continued uninterrupted access to the care they need.

UnitedHealthcare members who are in the middle of cancer treatment at COH are eligible to continue their care at in-network costs.

Continuity of care allows people in the middle of treatment at the time a provider leaves our network to continue accessing care with their provider for a period of time.

Examples of conditions that would be eligible for continuity of care include but are not limited to the following:

  • People in active treatment for cancer
  • Individuals in ongoing treatment for transplant services

UnitedHealthcare members must apply and be approved for continuity of care.

For information regarding how to apply and whether they might be eligible for continuity of care, members should call the number on their health plan ID card.

In the event of an emergency, UnitedHealthcare members should go to the nearest hospital and will be covered at the in-network benefit level, regardless of whether the hospital participates in our network.

We understand how important it is to have access to quality care – especially when facing something as serious as cancer. We also recognize and appreciate the relationship people have with their physician is not only important, it’s personal.

In the event COH leaves our network, we want our members to know they will continue to have access to a broad network of cancer centers and oncology specialists across Southern California, including, but not limited to:

  • Cedars Sinai Medical Center
  • Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
  • USC Kenneth Norris Jr. Hospital
  • Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
  • University of California Irvine Medical Center
  • PIH Health Whittier Hospital
  • Huntington Memorial Hospital

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:

Frequently asked questions

We have created the following FAQs to ensure you and your family have the information needed regarding next steps as well as details to help meet your health care needs.

We are engaged in good-faith discussions with City of Hope (COH) to renew our network relationship. Our goal is to reach an agreement that is affordable for consumers and employers in Southern California, while providing continued, uninterrupted network access to COH.

We will remain at the negotiating table with COH 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, City of Hope National Medical Center, City of Hope Medical Foundation providers, and COH’s clinical care locations in California will be out of network for people enrolled in the following plans, effective Jan. 1, 2026:

  • Employer-sponsored commercial plans
  • Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree plans

This negotiation impacts members enrolled in the following plans:

  • Employer-sponsored commercial plans
  • Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree plans

Members enrolled in our Medicare Advantage PPO and Group Retiree plans may receive care from COH as an out-of-network provider, if they are a participating provider that accepts the plan.

If members have a Group Retiree PPO plan, the member’s share of the cost is typically the same as if the provider was part of the network.

UnitedHealthcare Group Retiree members are encouraged to speak with the provider to confirm they will provide care, regardless of their network status.

We understand how important it is to have access to quality care – especially when facing something as serious as cancer. We also recognize and appreciate the relationship people have with their physician is not only important, it’s personal.

In the event COH leaves our network, we want our members to know they will continue to have access to a broad network of cancer centers and oncology specialists across Southern California, including, but not limited to:

  • Cedars Sinai Medical Center
  • Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
  • USC Kenneth Norris Jr. Hospital
  • Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
  • University of California Irvine Medical Center
  • PIH Health Whittier Hospital
  • Huntington Memorial Hospital

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:

Should we not reach an agreement, our number one priority is providing the people we serve continued uninterrupted access to the care they need. UnitedHealthcare members who are in the middle of cancer treatment at COH are eligible to continue their care at in-network costs.

Continuity of care allows people in the middle of treatment at the time a provider leaves our network to continue accessing care with their provider for a period of time.

Examples of conditions that would be eligible for continuity of care include but are not limited to the following:

  • People in active treatment for cancer
  • Individuals in ongoing treatment for transplant services

UnitedHealthcare members must apply and be approved for continuity of care.

For information regarding how to apply and whether they might be eligible for continuity of care, members should call the number on their health plan ID card.

In the event of an emergency, UnitedHealthcare members should go to the nearest hospital and will be covered at the in-network benefit level, regardless of whether the hospital participates in our network.

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: