Sutter Health

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

UnitedHealthcare and Sutter Health (Sutter) have mutually agreed to end our contract for Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans, with the exception of Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans. This means that Sutter’s physicians and hospitals will no longer be in network for members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare 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 are notifying our members in advance of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to inform them Sutter will be out of network.

Letters are being mailed to all 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 Sutter 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 also not impacted by this change.

We are engaged in good-faith negotiation with Sutter 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 Jan. 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.

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 are notifying our members in advance of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to inform them Sutter Health 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 at a Sutter hospital or with a Sutter 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.

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

Sutter’s physicians and locations, including the following hospitals, will no longer be in-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:

  • Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
  • Alta Base Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus
  • Alta Base Summit Medical Center - Herrick Campus
  • Alta Base Summit Medical Center - Summit Campus
  • California Pacific Medical Center - Van Ness Campus
  • California Pacific Medical Center - California Campus
  • California Pacific Medical Center - Davies Campus
  • California Pacific Medical Center - Pacific Campus
  • California Pacific Medical Center – Mission Campus
  • Eden Medical Center
  • Memorial Hospital of Los Banos
  • Memorial Medical Center
  • Mills Health Center
  • Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
  • Novato Community Hospital
  • Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region - Sutter Health Sacramento
  • Sutter Amador Hospital
  • Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital
  • Sutter Coast Hospital
  • Sutter Davis Hospital
  • Sutter Delta Medical Center
  • Sutter Lakeside Hospital
  • Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center
  • Sutter Medical Center Sacramento
  • Sutter Roseville Medical Center
  • Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital
  • Sutter Solano Medical Center
  • Sutter Surgical Hospital - North Valley
  • Sutter Tracy Community Hospital
  • Sutter Valley Hospital

This does not impact Medicare Supplement plans.

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

We are engaged in good-faith negotiation with Sutter 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 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. 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 Sutter 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 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. UnitedHealthcare and Sutter Health (Sutter) have mutually agreed to end our Individual Medicare Advantage HMO contract, with the exception of Medicare Advantage Group Retiree HMO and PPO plans. This means that Sutter’s physicians and hospitals will no longer be in network for members with UnitedHealthcare 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 are notifying our members in advance of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to inform them Sutter 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 Sutter 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 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 Sutter on and after Jan. 1, 2026.

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

UnitedHealthcare members who are in active or ongoing treatment for a serious or complex condition at a Sutter hospital or with a Sutter 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 in advance of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to inform them Sutter Health 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 enrolled in 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:

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.