Updated July 25, 2025
Our goal is to reach an agreement with Johns Hopkins that maintains continued network access to the health system. We recently extended our contract through Aug. 24 to allow our organizations additional time to negotiate while providing uninterrupted network access to the health system.
We understand how important it is to have access to quality care. We also recognize and appreciate the relationship our members have with their physician is not only important, it’s personal.
We’re actively working with Johns Hopkins to reach a long-term agreement that maintains continued, uninterrupted network access to the health system.
We value the quality care Johns Hopkins provides. That’s why we’ve agreed to reimburse the health system at the rates it has proposed in our current negotiation. Unfortunately, Johns Hopkins is now demanding contractual provisions that would harm employers and our members.
Our current contract with Johns Hopkins remains in effect through Aug. 24, 2025. In the event we are unable to reach an agreement, Johns Hopkins’ hospitals and facilities will be out of network for people enrolled in the following plans, beginning Aug. 25.
- Employer-sponsored commercial plans
- Individual Family Plan (IFP)
- Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Group Retiree
- Medicaid
Johns Hopkins physicians would also be out of network for people enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans, effective Aug. 25. The health system’s physicians do not currently participate in our Medicare Advantage or Medicaid networks.
This negotiation only impacts Johns Hopkins providers in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. Johns Hopkins provider locations in Florida will remain in our network, regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.
This isn’t about money. We’ve reached agreement on financial terms. What Johns Hopkins is now inexplicably demanding are contractual provisions that would harm our members and customers. At its core, this is about protecting access to care. As an in-network provider, Johns Hopkins should not have the discretion to turn patients away.
We have a responsibility to uphold our members’ ability to rely on our network for consistent, equitable access to care they need. Johns Hopkins is demanding language in its contract that would give them the right to refuse treatment for any employer it does not want to do business with. In other words, the health system is attempting to reserve the right to turn away UnitedHealthcare members at its discretion as an in-network provider. This is unacceptable.
Our priority is providing people with consistent, reliable and broad access to care. We expect Johns Hopkins to deliver on its commitment to provide care to the individuals and families who rely on them as an in-network provider. A provider who selectively and unilaterally turns patients away—regardless of medical need or coverage—not only undermines the foundation of what it means to be a network provider, but also erodes trust in the U.S. health care system by disrupting equitable access to care.
Johns Hopkins is also demanding that UnitedHealthcare be responsible for claims it submits when the patient is not a UnitedHealthcare member.
People in active or ongoing treatment for a serious or complex condition with a Johns Hopkins provider at the time they leave our network are eligible to continue care throughout the course of their treatment at in-network costs.
Continuity of care allows people in ongoing or active treatment for a serious or complex condition at the time a provider leaves our network to continue accessing care with their provider at in-network rates until their treatment concludes.
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;
- Women who are pregnant
You must apply and be approved for continuity of care. For information regarding how to apply, whether you might be eligible for continuity of care and much more, please call the number on your health plan ID card. Our dedicated team of advocates are ready to assist you with all your health care needs
Our commitment to you and your family’s health care needs
We know your relationship with your doctors are deeply personal and important, and we understand this is not easy. We want to keep Johns Hopkins in our network and will remain at the negotiating table as long as it takes to reach an agreement. However, we need Johns Hopkins to provide a proposal that protects patient access to care.
As we continue our discussions, we also want to provide you with information on the following page regarding next steps should Johns Hopkins leave our network.