Frequently asked questions

Our top priority is to reach an agreement that is affordable for people and employers while maintaining continued, uninterrupted network access to Ascension St. Vincent in Indiana. However, in the event we are unable to renew our relationship, the majority of Ascension St. Vincent’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians would be out of network for the following plans, beginning Aug. 1, 2026:

• Employer-sponsored commercial plans
• Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Group Retiree plans
• Medicaid

Ascension St. Vincent southwest providers, including Ascension St. Vincent Evansville and Ascension St. Vincent Warrick hospitals, are not impacted and will remain in our network, regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.

In the event we are unable to reach an agreement, the majority of Ascension St. Vincent’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians would be out of network for the following plans, beginning Aug. 1, 2026:

• Employer-sponsored commercial plans
• Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Group Retiree plans
• Medicaid

Ascension St. Vincent southwest providers, including Ascension St. Vincent Evansville and Ascension St. Vincent Warrick hospitals, are not impacted and will remain in our network, regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.

Yes. We are actively engaged in discussions with Ascension St. Vincent and continue to exchange proposals. Our top priority is to utilize the remaining time on our contract to reach an agreement that is affordable for people and employers while maintaining continued, uninterrupted network access to the health system.

Ascension St. Vincent southwest providers, including Ascension St. Vincent Evansville and Ascension St. Vincent Warrick hospitals, are not impacted and will remain in our network, regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.

However, all other Ascension St. Vincent physicians, facilities and the following hospitals will be out of network beginning Aug. 1 if an agreement is not reached:

Families and businesses throughout Indiana are feeling the growing financial strain of rising health care costs. Premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses continue to climb, making it harder for people to access the care they need. 

One of the leading drivers of these cost increases are the prices hospitals charge, such as Ascension St. Vincent, which is significantly more expensive than the other three large health systems in our network in the Indianapolis market. 

Indiana lawmakers have taken steps to address the high cost of health care in the state, including introducing bills in recent years that would reduce what health systems charge and bring prices down to sustainable benchmarks. Many of the state’s health systems have collaborated with us in recent years to make health care more affordable and align with the state’s cost benchmarks. 

Ascension St. Vincent is doing the opposite. The health system’s hospitals are reimbursed well above 300% of Medicare for commercial plans, far exceeding all of the health care cost benchmarks the state has established. Despite this, Ascension St. Vincent is seeking additional price hikes that further add to the affordability challenges people and companies in Indiana are facing.

People enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare Group Retiree PPO plan may still receive care with Ascension St. Vincent 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 Ascension St. Vincent 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. People can apply at any time from now through 30 days after a provider has left our network. They should call the number on their health plan ID card if they need assistance or have questions. Our dedicated team of advocates are ready to support them every step of the way.

Yes. We negotiate thousands of provider contracts every year, and the vast majority of those negotiations result in renewed contracts with no disruption for our members, and also no external noise as the negotiations are handled professionally and behind closed doors.

We are fully committed to engaging in productive, good-faith negotiation and remain focused on our goal of renewing our contract with Ascension St. Vincent to allow people continued access to quality, affordable care.

We hope Ascension St. Vincent shares our commitment of reaching an agreement that is affordable for the people and employers we serve.

UnitedHealthcare members should 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 the hospital participates in our network.