Updated October 6, 2025

University of Louisville Health to leave UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage network, as of Jan. 1

Throughout the past several months we proposed numerous options and solutions to keep University of Louisville Health (UofL Health) in our Medicare Advantage network and to provide people with uninterrupted network access to the health system.

Despite our repeated efforts to compromise, UofL Health has chosen to end our network relationship for our Medicare Advantage plans. UofL Health’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians will be out of network for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNP), beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

This does not impact our contract with UofL Health’s hospitals or providers for people enrolled in our employer-sponsored commercial plans, Individual Family Plan (IFP) and Medicaid plans. Those contracts remain in effect with no change and members in those plans continue to have uninterrupted network access to UofL Health’s hospitals and physicians.

Our top priority is that people have 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 UofL Health will be out of network, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

FAQs

UofL Health’s hospitals and physicians will be out of network beginning Jan. 1, 2026 for our Medicare Advantage plans only, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP).

People enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP), continue to have network access to UofL Health’s hospitals and physicians through Dec. 31, 2025, in accordance with our current contract.

UofL Health will be out of network for the following UnitedHealthcare benefit plans, as of Jan. 1, 2026:

  • UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNP)

This does not impact people enrolled in UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored commercial plans, Individual Family Plan (IFP) and Medicaid plans. Those contracts remain in effect with no change and members in those plans continue to have uninterrupted network access to UofL Health’s hospitals and physicians.

We know the care UofL Health provides to our members is not only important but also personal to our members. We also understand how disruptive it can be for our members and their families when a hospital or physician no longer participates in our network. We are fortunate to have a broad network of hospitals and physicians throughout the Louisville area that are readily able to provide high-quality care that meets the needs of our members.

Our members can choose from thousands of physicians and specialists as well as numerous hospitals throughout the surrounding area, including but not limited to the following:

Physicians

  • Amins Family Practice
  • Norton Healthcare
  • Stonecrest Family Medicine

Hospitals

  • Frankfort Regional Medical Center
  • Lifepoint Health facilities including Bluegrass Community Hospital
  • Norton Healthcare Facilities

UnitedHealthcare members who need assistance finding alternative in-network hospitals or physicians in their area should call the number on their health plan ID card.

For additional information about our Group Retiree plan as well as information on how to find an area provider, UnitedHealthcare members should go to retiree.uhc

If one of our members is in the middle of treatment at a UofL Health facility or with a UofL Health physician when they go out of network, they may qualify for continuity of care. Continuity of care provides continued in-network benefits for a specified period of time after a hospital or physician leaves our network. Examples of patients who may qualify include patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed cancer, or those currently in active cancer treatment.

Members who have questions about continuity of care, whether they might be eligible or need assistance applying should call the number on their health plan ID card. 

UnitedHealthcare members should always go to the nearest hospital in the event of an emergency. Their services will be covered at the in-network benefit level, regardless of whether the hospital participates in UnitedHealthcare’s network.