Our commitment to you and your family’s health care needs

Our current contract with Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) remains in effect through June 30, 2025. If we are unable to reach an agreement, MSK’s hospital – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) – as well as its facilities and physicians will be out of network for people enrolled in UnitedHealthcare and Oxford employer-sponsored commercial plans, beginning July 1, 2025.

People enrolled in UnitedHealthcare or Oxford fully insured commercial plans would continue to have network access to MSK’s hospital – MSKCC – through Aug. 30, in accordance with New York cooling off requirements.

Cooling off does not apply to ASO commercial plans, meaning MSK’s hospital – MSKCC – would be out of network for UnitedHealthcare and Oxford ASO commercial plans, effective July 1.

Cooling off only applies to hospitals. MSK’s physicians and other facilities, including outpatient centers, would be out of network for all UnitedHealthcare and Oxford fully insured and ASO commercial plans, beginning July 1.

In the event we are unable to reach an agreement, Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) would be out of network for people enrolled in UnitedHealthcare and Oxford employer-sponsored commercial plans, effective July 1, 2025.

Please note people enrolled in the Empire Plan are not impacted by this negotiation and will continue to have network access to MSK on and after July 1, regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.

Yes. People enrolled in the Empire Plan are not impacted by this negotiation and will continue to have network access to MSK on and after July 1, regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.

Additionally, the Optum Cancer Resource Services (CRS) plan with MSK is not impacted for Empire Plan members.

Yes. Our contract with Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) remains in effect through June 30. However, if you’re enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare or Oxford fully insured commercial plan, you will continue to have network access to MSK’s hospital – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) – through Aug. 30, consistent with New York cooling off requirements. 

Cooling off does not apply to ASO commercial plans. MSK’s hospital – MSKCC – would be out of network for people enrolled in UnitedHealthcare and Oxford ASO commercial plans, effective July 1.

Cooling off only applies to hospitals for people enrolled in fully insured plans. MSK’s physicians and other facilities, including outpatient centers, would be out of network for all UnitedHealthcare and Oxford fully insured and ASO commercial plans, beginning July 1.

No. Cooling off does not apply to ASO commercial plans. MSK’s hospital – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) – as well as all other MSK provider locations and physicians, would be out of network for people enrolled in UnitedHealthcare and Oxford ASO commercial plans, effective July 1.

Yes. Our goal is to reach an agreement that is affordable for you, your family as well as employers while providing continued, long-term access to Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK). We continue to make numerous compromises and are committed to utilizing the remaining time on our contract to engage in good-faith negotiation.

Our number one priority is providing you access to the quality care you need. If you are enrolled in a fully insured commercial plan sitused in New York and are in ongoing treatment at a Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) facility or with an MSK physician at the time they go out of network, you would be eligible for continuity of care. Continuity of care provides continued in-network benefits for a period of time after a hospital or physician leaves our network.

Consistent with New York regulations, people enrolled in fully insured plans sitused in New York are not required to be pre-approved for continuity of care, nor do you have to fill out a form to apply for it.

If you have questions regarding continuity of care, please call the number on your health plan ID card. 

Continuity of care provides continued in-network benefits for a period of time after a hospital or physician leaves our network. You are required to fill out a form and must be approved for continuity of care if you are enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare or Oxford fully insured plan sitused outside of the state of New York. You can apply for continuity of care any time between now and up to 30 days after the provider has left our network. In this instance, should MSK leave our network, you would have until July 30 to apply for continuity of care.

Please call the number on your health plan ID card if you have questions regarding continuity of care, whether you might be eligible and how to apply. Our dedicated team of advocates are here to support you every step of the way.

Our number one priority is providing you access to the quality care you need. If you are enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare or Oxford ASO commercial plan and were in active treatment with a Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) provider for a serious or complex condition such as cancer at the time they went out of network, you may be eligible for continuity of care. Continuity of care provides continued in-network benefits for a period of time after a hospital or physician leaves our network.

You are required to fill out a form in order to be approved for continuity of care if you are enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare or Oxford ASO commercial plan. You can apply any time between now and up to 30 days after the provider has left our network. In this instance, should MSK leave our network, you would have until July 30 to apply for continuity of care.

Please call the number on your health plan ID card if you have questions regarding continuity of care, whether you might be eligible and how to apply. Our dedicated team of advocates are here to support you every step of the way.

We know the care Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) provides is not only important but also personal to you and your family. That’s why we’re working hard to reach an agreement that is affordable for you and your family while providing continued, long-term network access to the health system.

However, in the event MSK leaves our network, we want you to know you continue to have access to a broad network of hospitals and physicians in New York City and throughout the Tri-State area specializing in cancer care. Some of the hospitals and physicians that continue to remain in our network in the region are among the top health systems in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-25 top hospital rankings in the country for cancer care.

Some examples of health systems specializing in cancer treatment that remain in our network in the New York City metro area include, but are not limited to:

• Lenox Hill Hospital
• Mount Sinai – The Tisch Cancer Institute
• New York Presbyterian Hospital – Columbia & Cornell
• Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Hospitals
• Montefiore Einstein Hospital 

Other hospitals that remain in our network in the region include but are not limited to:

• Atlantic Health System (New Jersey)
• Englewood Health (New Jersey)
• Hackensack Meridian Health (New Jersey)
• Holy Name Medical Center (New Jersey)
• Regional Cancer Care Associates (New Jersey)
• RWJ Barnabas Health (New Jersey)
• Saint Clare’s Denville Hospital (New Jersey)
• Summit Health (New Jersey)
• Valley Health System (New Jersey)
• NYC Health + Hospitals (New York)
• Dana Farber Cancer Institute (Massachusetts)
• Stamford Medical Center (Connecticut)
• Yale New Haven Health System (Connecticut) 

If you or a family member has questions or needs assistance finding alternative providers in your area, please call the number on your health plan ID card. You can also use the provider directory at myuhc.com to search for alternative hospitals and physicians in your area.

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