Providence

Important information regarding our relationship with Providence Health for people enrolled in our Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans in California

Providence Health’s providers in California will no longer be in UnitedHealthcare’s network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans, with the exception of Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Providence’s hospitals are not impacted.

Our top priority is that people have uninterrupted access to the care they need. That is why we are notifying our members during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to inform them Providence will be out of network.

Letters are being mailed to impacted members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans to inform them of this change.

This does not impact Medicare Supplement plans. People enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan can continue accessing care with their Providence providers on and after Jan. 1, 2026.

UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans are not impacted by this change.

We are engaged in good-faith negotiation with Providence to renew our network relationship for employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans. Our goal is to reach an agreement prior to Feb. 1, 2026, that is affordable for consumers and employers while providing continued, uninterrupted network access to the health system’s hospitals and providers for people enrolled in these plans. 

Facts you should know

Our priority is to provide our members with access to the care they need through a robust network of providers

We understand that network changes can be difficult. That is why we are notifying our members during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to inform them Providence Health’s providers will be out of network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO members will continue to have access to a broad network of more than 109,000 physicians across California.

Impacted members enrolled in Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans will be assigned to a new in-network physician and medical group in their area, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

If a member is satisfied with their new physician and medical group, they don’t need to do anything and a new member identification card with updated medical group and physician information will be mailed to them.

If a member prefers to select their own physician, they can choose a new medical group and physician from our network at any time by calling the customer care number on their health plan ID card or visit their plan’s website at: myuhcmedicare.com.

UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans are not impacted.

UnitedHealthcare is making strategic adjustments to our Medicare Advantage offerings for 2026 to ensure long-term affordability and stability of our plans

This means that we are reducing some service areas and discontinuing some plans.

Impacted members enrolled in Individual Medicare Advantage PPO plans will need to choose a new Individual Medicare Advantage plan, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans are not impacted.

For support finding in-network physicians and hospitals, members can call the customer care number on their health plan ID card or visit their plan’s website

UnitedHealthcare members who are in active or ongoing treatment for a serious or complex condition with a Providence provider are eligible to continue care throughout the course of their treatment 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.

Some examples of people who qualify and are eligible for continuity of care include but are not limited to

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

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.

Frequently asked questions

No. Providence Health’s providers will no longer be in UnitedHealthcare’s network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans, with the exception of Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Providence’s hospitals are not impacted.

Our top priority is that people have uninterrupted access to the care they need. That is why we are notifying our members during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to inform them Providence will be out of network.

UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans are not impacted by this change. 

We are engaged in good-faith negotiation with Providence to renew our network relationship for employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans. Our goal is to reach an agreement prior to Feb. 1, 2026, that is affordable for consumers and employers while providing continued, uninterrupted network access to the health system’s hospitals and providers for people enrolled in these plans. 

The following medical groups will no longer be in UnitedHealthcare’s network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans, with the exception of Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans, effective Jan. 1, 2026:

Los Angeles

  • Facey Santa Clarita
  • Facey Simi Valley
  • Facey Burbank
  • Facey Tarzana
  • Facey Medical Foundation
  • Axminster Medical Group
  • Providence Care Network
  • Saint John’s Physician Partner

 

Orange County

  • St. Jude Heritage Medical Group
  • Providence Affiliated Physicians – St. Jude
  • St. Joseph Heritage Medical Group
  • Providence Affiliated Physicians – St. Joseph
  • Mission Heritage Medical Group
  • Providence Affiliated Physicians – Mission

Inland Empire

  • St. Mary High Desert
  • Providence Affiliated Physicians – St. Mary

 

Northern California

  • UnitedHealthcare is making strategic adjustments to our Medicare Advantage offerings for 2026 to ensure long-term affordability and stability of our plans.
  • Effective Jan. 1, 2026, we’re reducing some service areas and discontinuing some plans.
  • The following medical groups are impacted by the Service Area Reduction and impacted members have been notified:
    • Providence Medical Network – Napa
    • Providence Medical Network – Sonoma

This does not impact Medicare Supplement plans. People enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan can continue accessing care with their Providence providers on and after Jan. 1, 2026.

UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans are not impacted by this change.

We are engaged in good-faith negotiation with Providence to renew our network relationship for employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans. Our goal is to reach an agreement prior to Feb. 1, 2026, that is affordable for consumers and employers while providing continued, uninterrupted network access to the health system’s hospitals and providers for people enrolled in these plans. 

No. Providence’s hospitals are not impacted. Providence Health’s providers in California will no longer be in UnitedHealthcare’s network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans, with the exception of Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

No. UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans are not impacted by this change.

We are engaged in good-faith negotiation with Providence to renew our network relationship for employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans. Our goal is to reach an agreement prior to Feb. 1, 2026, that is affordable for consumers and employers while providing continued, uninterrupted network access to the health system’s hospitals and providers for people enrolled in these plans. 

No. This does not impact Medicare Supplement plans. People enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan can continue to receive care at Providence on and after Jan. 1, 2026.

No. UnitedHealthcare is making strategic adjustments to our Medicare Advantage offerings for 2026 to ensure long-term affordability and stability of our plans.

This means that we are reducing some service areas and discontinuing some plans.

Impacted members enrolled in Individual Medicare Advantage PPO plans will need to choose a new Individual Medicare Advantage plan, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in Medicare Advantage Group Retiree PPO plans are not impacted by this change. 

Our top priority is that you have uninterrupted access to the care you need. That is why we are notifying our members during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to inform them Providence will be out of network, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

UnitedHealthcare members who are in active or ongoing treatment for a serious or complex condition with a Providence provider are eligible to continue care throughout the course of their treatment 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.

Some examples of people who qualify and are eligible for continuity of care include but are not limited to:

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

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.

Our priority is to provide our members have access to the care they need through a robust network of hospitals and providers.

We understand that network changes can be difficult. That is why we are notifying our members during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to inform them Providence Health providers will be out of network for members enrolled in Individual Medicare Advantage HMO, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Impacted members enrolled in Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans will be assigned to a new in-network physician and medical group in their area, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

If a member is satisfied with their new physician and medical group, they don’t need to do anything and a new member identification card with updated medical group and physician information will be mailed to them.

If a member prefers to select their own physician, they can choose a new medical group and physician from our network at any time by calling the customer care number on their health plan ID card or visit their plan’s website at: myuhcmedicare.com.

The members we are privileged to serve will continue to have ample access to in-network care from a broad network of more than 109,000 physicians across California, including, but not limited to, the following medical groups:

Los Angeles

  • Optum
  • Lakeside Medical Group
  • Prospect Medical Group
  • Sierra Medical Group
  • Torrance Memorial IPA
  • Cedars Sinai Medical Group
  • Blue Zones Health

San Bernadino County

  • Optum – Beaver Medical Group
  • Choice Medical Group
  • Alliance Desert Physicians

Orange County

  • Optum Care Network Monarch
  • Memorial Care Medical Group
  • Hoag Medical Group
  • GNP Hoag
  • Prospect Medical Group

Impacted members enrolled in Individual Medicare Advantage PPO plans will need to choose a new Individual Medicare Advantage plan, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans are not impacted and may keep their existing medical group and Providence physician.

Providence’s hospitals are not impacted.

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