University of Miami Health System (UHealth)
Our goal is to renew our network relationship with the University of Miami Health System (UHealth) while providing people access to affordable care
We are actively negotiating with UHealth to renew our network relationship while providing continued, uninterrupted network access to the health system. For now, nothing changes. People continue to have network access to UHealth’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians through July 31, 2026.
However, if we are unable to reach an agreement, UHealth will be out of network for people enrolled in the following UnitedHealthcare plans, beginning August 1:
- Employer-sponsored commercial plans
- Medicaid (UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Florida)
- Individual Family Plan (IFP)
Negotiating with health systems is a routine part of health plans and health systems working together. We negotiate thousands of contracts each year, and the vast majority are resolved with no disruption to in-network care. Unfortunately, a small number of health systems choose to negotiate publicly, putting their patients in the middle of these discussions as potential leverage to obtain the price increases they are seeking.
That is the case with UHealth, which continues to seek significant price hikes that would increase health care costs for families and employers.
We want people to have continued access to UHealth. However, we have a responsibility to ensure that access is affordable. Health care costs are directly affected by the reimbursement we negotiate with health systems in our network. One of the leading drivers of rising health care costs are the prices hospitals charge.
We are proposing rate increases that continue to reimburse UHealth similar to its peers throughout the region while balancing the need for affordable care for hard-working families and employers already struggling during challenging economic times.
As we continue our discussions with UHealth, we want to share important information with you below so you are prepared with the information you need should the health system choose to leave our network.
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 UHealth. However, in the event we are unable to renew our relationship, UHealth’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians would be out of network for the following plans, beginning August 1, 2026:
- Employer-sponsored commercial plans
- Medicaid (UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Florida)
- Individual Family Plan (IFP)
In the event we are unable to reach an agreement, UHealth would be out of network for the following plans, beginning August 1, 2026:
- Employer-sponsored commercial plans
- Medicaid (UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Florida)
- Individual Family Plan (IFP)
We have a separate agreement with UHealth for people enrolled in our Medicare Advantage Preferred Care Network plan. People enrolled in this plan will continue to have network access to UHealth’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians, regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.
No. We have a separate agreement with UHealth for people enrolled in our Medicare Advantage Preferred Care Network plan. People enrolled in this plan will continue to have network access to UHealth’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians, regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.
UHealth is out of network currently for all other UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, excluding Preferred Care Network.
Yes. We are actively engaged in discussions with UHealth 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.
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.
The people we serve will continue to have access to a large network of providers throughout the south Florida area should UHealth leave our network. Some examples of health systems that remain in our network in the region include but are not limited to:
- Baptist Health Medical Group Physicians
- HCA Florida Mercy Hospital
- Memorial Healthcare System
- Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida
- Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
UnitedHealthcare members should call the number on their health plan ID card if they need assistance finding another provider. They can also use the provider directory on our member website to search for alternative hospitals and doctors.
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 UHealth to allow people continued access to quality, affordable care.
We hope UHealth 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.