Wakemed (NC)

UnitedHealthcare, WakeMed finalize multi-year agreement for people enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans, effective Oct. 15, 2026

Beginning Oct. 15, people enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans will have network access to WakeMed’s hospitals, specialty physicians, free-standing HealthPlex locations as well as its home health providers.

As a reminder, WakeMed’s primary care physicians employed by the health system as well as its ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and free-standing PET imaging center never went out of network at any point and continue to remain in our network today and moving forward.

We look forward to collaborating with WakeMed in the years ahead to provide North Carolinians and employers access to quality, affordable care.

UnitedHealthcare commercial members should call the number on their health plan ID card if they have any questions or need assistance regarding their health care needs.

WakeMed continues to remain in our Medicaid network—UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina

People enrolled in our Medicaid plan—UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina—continue to have network access to WakeMed’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians. Our contract for our Medicaid plan was never impacted at any point during our negotiation with the health system.

WakeMed’s hospitals, specialty physicians, HealthPlex locations and home health providers remain out of network for people enrolled in our Medicare Advantage plans

WakeMed’s hospitals, specialty physicians, HealthPlex locations and home health providers will remain out of network for people enrolled in our Medicare Advantage plans, including individual, Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Group Retiree plans.

As a reminder, WakeMed’s primary care physicians employed by the health system as well as its ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and free-standing PET imaging center continue to remain in our Medicare Advantage network for individual, DSNP and Group Retiree plans. These providers and facilities never went out of network at any point during our negotiation.

People enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan continue to have access to all WakeMed hospitals, facilities and its physicians

People enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan were never impacted by our negotiation with WakeMed. If you have a Medicare Supplement plan, you can continue accessing care at WakeMed’s hospitals, facilities as well as its physicians with no change.

People enrolled in our Medicare Advantage plans continue to have access to a broad network of hospitals and providers throughout the Raleigh area

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, we want you to know you continue to have access to a broad network of hospitals and physicians across the Raleigh area and surrounding communities, including, but not limited to: 

  • UNC Rex Hospital
  • UNC Medical Center
  • UNC Health Johnston
  • UNC Health Johnston in Clayton
  • Duke Raleigh Hospital
  • Duke Regional Hospital
  • Duke University Medical Center
  • Wilson Medical Center

If you have questions or are in need of assistance finding alternative providers in your area, please call us at the number on your health plan ID card. You can also visit your plan’s website:

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

Frequently asked questions

Beginning Oct. 15, people enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans will have network access to WakeMed’s hospitals, specialty physicians, free-standing HealthPlex locations as well as its home health providers.

As a reminder, WakeMed’s primary care physicians employed by the health system as well as its ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and free-standing PET imaging center never went out of network at any point and continue to remain in our network.

WakeMed’s primary care physicians employed by the health system as well as its ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and its free-standing PET imaging center never went out of network at any point and continue to remain in our network now and moving forward.

Beginning Oct. 15, people enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans will have network access to all WakeMed providers and locations, including its hospitals, specialty physicians, HealthPlex locations as well as its home health providers.

Yes. People enrolled in our Medicaid plan—UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina—continue to have network access to all of WakeMed’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians. Our contract for our Medicaid plan was never impacted at any point during our negotiation with the health system.

Yes. We have not reached an agreement with WakeMed for our Medicare Advantage plans. The health system’s hospitals, specialty physicians, HealthPlex locations and home health providers remain out of network for people enrolled in our Medicare Advantage plans, including individual, Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Group Retiree plans.

As a reminder, WakeMed’s primary care physicians employed by the health system as well as its ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and free-standing PET imaging center continue to remain in our Medicare Advantage network for individual, DSNP and Group Retiree plans. These providers and facilities never went out of network at any point during our negotiation.

People enrolled in our Medicare Advantage plans, including individual, DSNP and Group Retiree plans, continue to have network access to WakeMed’s primary care physicians employed by the health system as well as its ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and free-standing PET imaging location. These providers never went out of network at any point and continue to remain in our network.

Yes. People enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan were never impacted by our negotiation with WakeMed. If you have a Medicare Supplement plan, you can continue access WakeMed’s hospitals, facilities as well as its physicians with no change.

We want you to know you continue to have access to a broad network of hospitals and physicians across the Raleigh area and surrounding communities, including, but not limited to:

  • UNC Rex Hospital
  • UNC Medical Center
  • UNC Health Johnston
  • UNC Health Johnston in Clayton
  • Duke Raleigh Hospital
  • Duke Regional Hospital
  • Duke University Medical Center
  • Wilson Medical Center

If you have questions or are in need of assistance finding alternative providers in your area, please call us at the number on your health plan ID card. You can also visit your plan’s website:

UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in a Group Retiree PPO plan may still receive care at WakeMed as an out-of-network provider should they agree to see them.

The share of the cost will be the same for Group Retiree PPO members as if the provider was part of the network. We encourage UnitedHealthcare Group Retiree members to speak with WakeMed to confirm they’ll continue to see them, regardless of their network status.

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

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.