Stamford Health

Stamford Health is wanting to increase health care costs for Connecticut families and employers by nearly 30% in order to remain in our network

We are actively negotiating with Stamford Health in Connecticut to renew our network relationship. Our top priority is to reach an agreement that is affordable for Connecticut families and employers while maintaining continued network access to the health system.

Our current contract for our employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage plans remains in effect through Jan. 31, 2026. 

However, people enrolled in fully insured and ASO (self-funded) commercial plans, as well as our Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP), will continue to have network access to Stamford Health’s hospital, facilities and its physicians through March 31, 2026, even if our contract ends on Feb. 1. While Connecticut cooling off requirements only apply to hospitals for fully insured commercial plans, we are extending it to all Stamford providers for people enrolled in commercial and Medicare Advantage plans as part of our effort to minimize potential disruption for our members.

Stamford Hospital is Connecticut’s most expensive hospital, yet the health system wants a near 30% price hike that would make it an even larger cost outlier in the state

Employers and families throughout Connecticut are already struggling to afford skyrocketing health care costs. The leading driver of these increases are the prices hospitals charge—such as Stamford Health—which is significantly higher cost than any other hospital in our commercial network in all of Connecticut and is demanding a near 30% price hike over three years. The full impact of these cost increases would be in effect by Feb. 1, 2028.

Stamford Health’s proposal would increase health care costs by approximately $62 million, adding even more financial strain for people and employers during challenging economic times.

Facts you should know

Local employers would bear the brunt of Stamford Health’s cost increases

The majority of the rate increases Stamford Health is seeking would come out of the operating budgets of Connecticut employers. More than 80% of our members throughout Connecticut are enrolled in ASO (self-funded) commercial plans, meaning their employers pay the cost of their employees’ medical bills themselves.

Agreeing to Stamford Health’s demands for a near 30% price hike would mean these employers have less money available to pay salaries, invest in new technologies or help grow the business. These companies are also faced with difficult decisions about benefits and costs, often leaving them with no other choice than to pass a portion of these cost increases to their employees, resulting in higher deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses, and employee contributions.

Stamford Health’s proposal would significantly drive up health care costs for Connecticut residents

To illustrate the impact of Stamford Health’s proposal, consider the following, which shows how much more these services would increase in costs compared to today if we agreed to a near 30% price hike:

  • The cost of a C-section at Stamford Hospital would increase by nearly $6,800 more than it costs today
  • A vaginal delivery at Stamford Hospital would be approximately $4,500 more than it is today
  • The average cost of an emergency room level five visit would rise by approximately $3,000
  • A cardiac catheterization would increase by $16,000

We are proposing rate increases consistent with the annual cost benchmarks established by the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy (OHS)

Our top priority is to reach an agreement that is affordable for Connecticut families and employers while maintaining continued network access to Stamford Health. We are proposing rate increases consistent with the Connecticut OHS annual cost benchmarks announced in June 2025.

Stamford Health, which owns the most expensive hospital in Connecticut, is demanding price hikes approximately three times higher than the annual cost benchmark established by OHS. Stamford Health’s proposal is not affordable or sustainable for Connecticut families and businesses and would make the health system an even larger cost outlier in the state than it already is today.

We will remain at the negotiating table as long as it takes to reach an agreement that is affordable for the people and employers we serve

We know this is deeply personal. We all want people and their loved ones to have access to the best care possible. But what does having quality care mean if people can’t afford to access it and are forced to choose between their health and their financial peace of mind?

We care deeply about the people and families throughout southwestern Connecticut. We will stay at the negotiating table as long as it takes to reach an agreement. We hope Stamford Health will join us there. Quality care can and should be affordable—and the people and companies we serve deserve both.

Frequently asked questions

We are actively negotiating with Stamford Health to renew our network relationship for our employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) and Group Retiree plans. Our goal is to reach an agreement that is affordable while maintaining continued, uninterrupted network access to the health system.

Our current contract remains in effect through Jan. 31, 2026. However, people enrolled in fully insured and ASO (self-funded) commercial plans, as well as our Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP), will continue to have network access to Stamford Health’s hospital, facilities and its physicians through March 31, 2026, even if our contract ends on Feb. 1.

While Connecticut cooling off requirements only apply to hospitals for fully insured commercial plans, we are extending it to all Stamford providers for people enrolled in commercial and Medicare Advantage plans as part of our effort to minimize potential disruption for our members.

In the event we are unable to reach an agreement, Stamford Health will be out of network for people enrolled in the following plans, effective April 1, 2026:

 

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

It’s important to note that while our contract with Stamford Health only remains in effect through Jan. 31, 2026, people enrolled in the above plans will continue to have network access to the health system’s hospital, facilities and its physicians through March 31, 2026. While Connecticut cooling off requirements only apply to hospitals for fully insured commercial plans, we are extending it to all Stamford providers for people enrolled in commercial and Medicare Advantage plans as part of our effort to minimize potential disruption for our members.

Medicare Supplement plans are not impacted by our negotiation. People with a Medicare Supplement plan can continue to access care at Stamford Health regardless of the outcome of our negotiation. 

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

Yes. Our goal is to utilize the remaining time on our contract to reach an agreement that is affordable while maintaining uninterrupted network access to Stamford Health.

Continuity of care allows people 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.

A few examples of patients who may qualify include:

  • Women who are pregnant;
  • Patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed cancer, or those currently in active cancer treatment

You must apply and be approved for continuity of care. If you or a loved one believe you might be eligible for continuity of care, need assistance applying, or have questions, please call the number on your health plan ID card. Our dedicated team of advocates are ready to help.

People enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare Group Retiree PPO plan may still receive care at Stamford 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 Stamford 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.

UnitedHealthcare members will continue to have access to a broad network of hospitals throughout southwest Connecticut should Stamford Health leave our network. 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 always 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.