Health First

Health First in Central Florida is out-of-network effective July 1

Despite months of repeated efforts, we were unable to reach an agreement with Health First.

As a result, Health First Medical Group providers as well as the following Health First hospitals in Central Florida are out of network for people enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Individual Family Plan (IFP), effective July 1, 2026: 

  • Viera Hospital
  • Holmes Regional Medical Center
  • Palm Bay Hospital
  • Cape Canaveral Hospital

At this time, Health First Surgery Center at Babcock remains in network until August 1, 2026.

Health First’s hospitals and providers remain out of network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans.

Health First providers remain out of network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Community Plans in Florida (Medicaid).

  • Members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Community Plans in Florida (Medicaid) may continue to have network access to all of Health First’s hospitals, which will remain in network regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.

While we remain open to engaging in productive, good-faith discussions with Health First, our primary focus at this time is ensuring that the members we serve have uninterrupted access to the care they need

We understand and appreciate how disruptive it can be for our members and their families when a provider no longer participates in our network

Our priority is to provide our members continued, uninterrupted access to the care they need through a broad network of hospitals and providers across Central Florida, including but not limited to:

  • Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital
  • Orlando Health Sebastian River Hospital
  • Parrish Medical Center
  • Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital
  • Indian River Medical Center
  • AdventHealth Kissimmee

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 at myuhc.com.

UnitedHealthcare members who are in the middle of treatment with Health First may qualify for continuity of care, which provides continued in-network benefits for a specified period of time after a provider leaves our network.

Examples of conditions that qualify for continuity of care include, but are not limited to:

  • Members who are pregnant
  • Members in ongoing treatment for conditions such as cancer.

People who have questions about continuity of care, including whether they might be eligible and how to apply, should call the number on the back of 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.

Facts you should know

We remain fully committed to continuing to engage in productive, good-faith discussions with Health First

Our top priority is to reach an agreement and ensure the people we serve have continued uninterrupted network access to affordable health care at the health system.

We will remain at the negotiating table with Health First for as long as it takes to reach an agreement. We hope Health First shares our commitment and works with us on solutions that are affordable and sustainable.

Health First continues to seek unreasonable price hikes that are not affordable and would increase health care costs for consumers and employers in Central Florida

Excessive rate demands have an impact on the cost of premiums as well as out-of-pocket costs for the people we serve, while also driving up the cost to do business for employers.

We have a responsibility to provide the people we serve with access to quality health care while also helping to contain rapidly rising health care costs.

We are committed to engaging in productive, good-faith negotiation and urge Health First to provide a proposal that is reasonable and affordable.

We are proposing rate increases that will continue to reimburse Health First fairly and similarly to its peers while slowing the unsustainable rise in health care costs

Despite our repeated efforts to compromise, Health First is unwilling to accept our proposed market-competitive rate increases that will reimburse Health First consistent with other health systems in the area.

We have a responsibility to provide the people we serve with access to quality health care while also helping to contain rapidly rising health care costs.

We are hopeful that Health First will work with us to reach an agreement that is affordable for families and customers in Central Florida.

We value our network relationship with Health First and have historically provided the health system with market competitive rates, including offering meaningful rate increases for Health First’s physicians and hospitals during our last negotiation

However, due to limitations in Health First’s internal system, it was unable to accept the rate increases we offered for its physicians in the past.

We are hopeful that Health First has addressed its internal issues to support its physicians in the Brevard County area.

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.

Despite months of repeated efforts, we were unable to reach an agreement with Health First.

As a result, Health First Medical Group providers as well as the following Health First hospitals in Central Florida are out of network for people enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Individual Family Plan (IFP), effective July 1, 2026: 

  • Viera Hospital
  • Holmes Regional Medical Center
  • Palm Bay Hospital
  • Cape Canaveral Hospital

At this time, Health First Surgery Center at Babcock remains in network until August 1, 2026.

Health First’s hospitals and providers remain out of network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans.

Health First providers remain out of network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Community Plans in Florida (Medicaid).

  • Members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Community Plans in Florida (Medicaid) may continue to have network access to all of Health First’s hospitals, which will remain in network regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.

We are disappointed that we were unable to renew our relationship with Health First. Despite our repeated efforts to compromise, Health First is unwilling to accept our proposed market-competitive rates that will reimburse Health First consistent with other health systems in the area.

While we remain open to engaging in productive, good-faith discussions with Health First, our primary focus at this time is ensuring that the members we serve have uninterrupted access to the care they need.

Health First Medical Group providers as well as the following Health First hospitals are out of network for people enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Individual Family Plan (IFP), effective July 1, 2026: 

  • Viera Hospital
  • Holmes Regional Medical Center
  • Palm Bay Hospital
  • Cape Canaveral Hospital

Health First Surgery Center at Babcock remains in network. If we are unable to reach an agreement, Health First Surgery Center at Babcock will be out of network for members enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Individual Family Plan (IFP), effective August 1, 2026.

Health First’s hospitals and providers remain out of network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans.

Health First providers remain out of network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Community Plans in Florida (Medicaid).

  • Members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Community Plans in Florida (Medicaid) may continue to have network access to all of Health First’s hospitals, which will remain in network regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.

The following Health First hospitals are out of network for people enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Individual Family Plan (IFP), effective July 1, 2026: 

  • Viera Hospital
  • Holmes Regional Medical Center
  • Palm Bay Hospital
  • Cape Canaveral Hospital

Health First Medical Group providers as well as Health First hospitals are out of network for people enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Individual Family Plan (IFP), effective July 1, 2026. 

Health First Surgery Center at Babcock will be out of network for members enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Individual Family Plan (IFP), effective August 1, 2026.

Health First’s hospitals and providers remain out of network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans.

Health First providers remain out of network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Community Plans in Florida (Medicaid).

  • Members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Community Plans in Florida (Medicaid) may continue to have network access to all of Health First’s hospitals, which will remain in network regardless of the outcome of our negotiation

We understand that network changes can be difficult. Our priority is to provide our members access to the care they need through a robust network of hospitals and providers.

The people we are privileged to serve will continue to have access to in-network care from a broad network of providers and hospitals across Central Florida, including but not limited to:.

  • Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital
  • Orlando Health Sebastian River Hospital
  • Parrish Medical Center
  • Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital
  • Indian River Medical Center
  • AdventHealth Kissimmee

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 at myuhc.com.

UnitedHealthcare members who are in the middle of treatment at a Health First hospital or with a Health First physician may qualify for continuity of care, which provides continued in-network benefits for a specified period of time after a hospital or physician leaves our network.

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

Any member who believes they need continuity of care should contact UnitedHealthcare to determine if they are eligible.

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 at myuhc.com.