Sutter Health

UnitedHealthcare and Sutter Health agree to multi-year contract for employer-sponsored commercial plans and Group Retiree plans

UnitedHealthcare and Sutter Health (Sutter) have reached a multi-year agreement that provides people enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans continued, uninterrupted network access to Sutter’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians.

We thank you for your support and patience throughout this process. We are honored to continue supporting all of the people throughout California who depend on us for access to quality and affordable health care. 

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

UnitedHealthcare and Sutter have mutually agreed that Sutter’s physicians will be out of network for Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Our top priority is that people have uninterrupted access to the care they need. That is why we notified our members in advance of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to inform them Sutter’s physicians will be out of network.

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

Our network relationship with Sutter’s hospitals for our Medicare Advantage plans remains unchanged. UnitedHealthcare members should call the number on their health plan ID card or check our provider directory to confirm if a Sutter hospital participates in our network for their Medicare Advantage plan.

Here are a few things you need to know:

Our priority is to provide our members with 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 notified our members in advance of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to inform them Sutter Health’s physicians will be out of network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Impacted members located in the following counties will be assigned to a new in-network physician and medical group in their area, effective Jan. 1, 2026: 

  • Kings
  • Fresno
  • Madera
  • Nevada
  • Amador
  • El Dorado
  • Lake
  • Mendocino
  • Merced
  • Tulare Counties

If a member is satisfied with their new physician and medical group, they don’t need to do anything. 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.

Impacted members located in the following counties will need to choose a new Individual Medicare Advantage plan, effective Jan. 1, 2026:

  • Placer
  • Sacramento
  • Stanislaus
  • Yolo

UnitedHealthcare members with Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans are not impacted and may keep their existing medical group and Sutter physician.

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 Sutter physician 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.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. We have finalized a new multi-year agreement that provides people enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans and Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans continued, uninterrupted network access to Sutter’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians.

Sutter’s physicians are now out of network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans, as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Our top priority is that people have uninterrupted access to the care they need. That is why we notified our members in advance of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to inform them Sutter’s physicians will be out of network.

Impacted members located in the following counties will be assigned to a new in-network physician and medical group in their area, effective Jan. 1, 2026:

  • Kings
  • Fresno
  • Madera
  • Nevada
  • Amador
  • El Dorado
  • Lake
  • Mendocino
  • Merced
  • Tulare Counties

If a member is satisfied with their new physician and medical group, they don’t need to do anything. 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.

Impacted members located in the following counties will need to choose a new Individual Medicare Advantage plan, effective Jan. 1, 2026:

  • Placer
  • Sacramento
  • Stanislaus
  • Yolo

UnitedHealthcare members with Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans are not impacted and may keep their existing medical group and Sutter physician.

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 at:

Our network relationship with Sutter’s hospitals for our Medicare Advantage plans remains unchanged. UnitedHealthcare members should call the number on their health plan ID card or check our provider directory to confirm if a Sutter hospital participates in our network for their Medicare Advantage plan.

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

Our top priority is that you have uninterrupted access to the care you need.

UnitedHealthcare members who are in active or ongoing treatment for a serious or complex condition with a Sutter provider may be eligible for continuity of care. 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. 

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. Impacted members located in the following counties will be assigned to a new in-network physician and medical group in their area, effective Jan. 1, 2026: 

  • Kings
  • Fresno
  • Madera
  • Nevada
  • Amador
  • El Dorado
  • Lake
  • Mendocino
  • Merced
  • Tulare Counties

If a member is satisfied with their new physician and medical group, they don’t need to do anything. 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.

Impacted members located in the following counties will need to choose a new Individual Medicare Advantage plan, effective Jan. 1, 2026:

  • Placer
  • Sacramento
  • Stanislaus
  • Yolo

UnitedHealthcare members with Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans are not impacted and may keep their existing medical group and Sutter physician.

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: