As of November 1, 2024, approximately 35,000 patients with UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored plans have found their access to WellSpan Health facilities and physicians disrupted. The Pennsylvania-based health system's contract with the insurance company expired at midnight, leaving these patients out of network.
WellSpan Health and UnitedHealthcare have been in negotiations over the contract, with disagreements arising over rate increases. UnitedHealthcare claims that WellSpan is seeking "significant rate increases," while WellSpan argues that the cost hike is reasonable. According to UnitedHealthcare, WellSpan Health’s hospitals are more than 30% higher than the average cost of all other hospitals participating in their commercial network in south-central and eastern Pennsylvania.
Despite the contract expiration, the two sides have agreed to extend coverage for those on Medicaid and special needs plans through the end of November. WellSpan stated that their primary concern remains the thousands of patients who may no longer be able to afford what will become out-of-network costs associated with seeing their preferred WellSpan provider.
Negotiations between the two parties are ongoing, with both sides expressing a commitment to reaching an agreement that is affordable and restores network access to WellSpan Health.