Main Line Health

Our goal is to renew our network relationship with Main Line Health while providing people access to affordable care

We are actively negotiating with Main Line Health 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 Main Line Health’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians.

However, if we are unable to reach an agreement, Main Line Health will be out of network for the following benefit plans, effective July 1, 2026:

  • UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored commercial plans
  • UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP), Institutional Special Needs Plans (ISNP) and Group Retiree plans

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 Main Line Health, which is demanding a more than 30% price hike in one year for our employer-sponsored commercial plans that would significantly increase health care costs for families and employers.

Main Line Health is also seeking rate increases for our Medicare Advantage plans that would make it significantly higher cost than any system in our network in all of Pennsylvania.

We want people to have continued access to Main Line Health. 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 Main Line Health 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 Main Line Health, 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

We are negotiating with Main Line Health to renew our network relationship. For now, nothing changes. People continue to have network access to Main Line Health. However, in the event we are unable to reach an agreement, Main Line Health’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians will be out of network for the following plans, effective July 1, 2026:

  • UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored commercial plans
  • UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP), Institutional Special Needs Plan (ISNP) and Group Retiree plans

In the event we are unable to reach an agreement, Main Line Health will be out of network for the following plans, effective July 1, 2026:

  • UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored commercial plans
  • UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP), Institutional Special Needs Plan (ISNP) and Group Retiree plans

No. Medicare Supplement plans are not impacted. People with a Medicare Supplement plan can continue to access care at Main Line Health regardless of the outcome of our negotiation. 

Yes. We remain engaged in active discussions with Main Line Health. Our top priority is to use the remaining time on our contract to work toward an agreement that is affordable for Pennsylvania families and employers while maintaining continued, long-term network access to the health system.

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 and health systems charge, such as Main Line Health.

To date, Main Line Health has refused to move off its demands for a more than 30% price hike in one year that is not affordable for Pennsylvanians or employers. Main Line Health’s proposal would drive up premiums and out-of-pocket costs for families as well as the cost of doing business for employers.

Main Line Health is also seeking significant rate increases for our Medicare Advantage plans that would make the health system substantially higher cost than any system in our network in all of Pennsylvania. This would drive up overall health care costs while having a direct impact on the benefits people rely on when choosing our plan.

Our goal during this negotiation is to reach a solution that continues to reimburse Main Line Health at market-competitive rates so they can provide the quality care people rely on while not placing a burden on hard-working families and employers already struggling during challenging economic times.

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.

Our goal is to utilize the time remaining on our contract to reach a long-term agreement with Main Line Health that is affordable for Pennsylvania families and employers while maintaining uninterrupted network access to the health system.

UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in a Group Retiree PPO plan may still receive care at Main Line Health 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 Main Line Health 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.

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. Please call the number on your health plan ID card if you need assistance applying, have questions regarding whether you may be eligible for continuity of care and much more. Our dedicated team of advocates are ready to support you and your family every step of the way.

Our goal is to renew our network relationship with Main Line Health. However, should the health system choose to leave our network as of July 1, we want you to know you will continue to have access to a broad network of hospitals and physicians throughout the Philadelphia market and all of eastern Pennsylvania.

Please call the number on your health plan ID card if you need assistance finding another provider in your area. You can also use our provider directory at myuhc.com.

You should go to the nearest hospital in the event of an emergency. Your care will be covered at the in-network benefit level, regardless of whether the hospital participates in our network.