Updated March 10, 2026

VCU Health

Important information about our relationship with VCU Health in Virginia

UnitedHealthcare and Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (VCU Health) have reached agreement to renew the existing Commercial, Medicaid, Individual Family Plans, VACCN, I-SNP, and DSNP contracts. This ensures UnitedHealthcare’s members enrolled in the following plans have continued access to VCU Health's locations and physicians in the Greater Richmond Region of Virginia:

  • Employer-sponsored and individual Commercial plans
  • Individual Family Plans (IFP)
  • Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP)
  • Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNP)
  • UnitedHealthcare Community Plans in Virginia (Medicaid)
  • VACCN

UnitedHealthcare and VCU Health have mutually agreed to terminate our Medicare Advantage contract, with the exception of UnitedHealthcare Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP) and Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNP). This means that VCU Health's locations and physicians are no longer in network for members with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage and Group Retiree plans, with the exception of DSNP and I-SNP plans.

UnitedHealthcare members with Commercial plans, Individual Family Plans, VACCN coverage, UnitedHealthcare Community Plans in Virginia (Medicaid), as well as I-SNP and DSNP plans, are not impacted by this change and have in-network access to VCU Health's locations and physicians.

Facts you should know

VCU Health’s physicians and locations, including the following hospitals, are no longer in network for members with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage and Group Retiree plans, with the exception of I-SNP and DSNP plans:

  • VCU Medical Center
  • VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital
  • VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital
  • Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU Children's Pavilion

Members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage and Group Retiree plans may continue to access and receive care at VCU Medical Center as an out-of-network provider for non-emergent services, in compliance with the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Members could face higher costs if they choose to access care from an out-of-network provider, depending on their benefit plan.

Members are encouraged to call the customer care number on their health plan ID card to confirm out-of-network costs for care.

People enrolled in our Medicare Advantage PPO plans may receive care from an out-of-network provider, if the provider is a Medicare participating provider which accepts the plan.

If people have a Group Retiree PPO plan, their share of the cost is typically the same as if the provider was part of the network.

Members enrolled in our Medicare Advantage and Group Retiree plans are encouraged to speak with the provider to confirm they will provide care, regardless of their network status.

UnitedHealthcare members who are in the middle of treatment at a VCU Health hospital or with a VCU Health provider may qualify for continuity of care, which provides continued in-network benefits for a specified period of time after a hospital or physician leaves our network.

Members who have questions about continuity of care should call the number on the back of 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.

We understand that network changes can be difficult. Our priority is to ensure our members have access to the care they need through a robust network of providers.

The Medicare Advantage and Group Retiree members we are privileged to serve will continue to have ample access to in-network care from a broad network of providers and hospitals across the Greater Richmond Region, including but not limited to:

  • Henrico Doctors' Hospital
  • Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital
  • Bon Secours - Southern Virginia Medical Center
  • Rappahannock General Hospital
  • Johnston-Willis Hospital
  • Bon Secours Southside Medical Center

For support finding in-network hospitals and physicians, members can call the customer care number on their health plan ID card or visit their plan’s website: