Valley Health Hospitals in Virginia and West Virginia Will Leave UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Network October 1

Valley Health's hospitals, physician practices, and facilities in Virginia and West Virginia will no longer be in-network for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage individual and group retiree plans after September 30, 2026.

UnitedHealthcare informed Valley Health that it would not renew the Medicare Advantage contract. Valley Health said UHC rejected its renewal proposal without offering a counterproposal, citing disagreements over reimbursement. About 8,000 patients are affected.

Beginning October 1, UHC Medicare Advantage members who seek care at Valley Health facilities will face out-of-network cost sharing. For PPO plan holders, coverage continues but at a higher member cost level. HMO members typically have no out-of-network benefits except in emergencies.

Federal law requires UHC to continue covering emergency care at Valley Health facilities regardless of network status. Patients who are in the middle of active or ongoing treatment for a serious or complex condition at the time of the contract termination may qualify for continuity of care, which allows in-network cost sharing for a limited period after the provider leaves the network.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policyholders and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Medicaid members are not affected by this contract change.

The situation adds to a pattern of hospital systems and Medicare Advantage insurers failing to reach renewal agreements in 2026, with several high-profile disputes unresolved as the Annual Enrollment Period, which begins October 15, approaches.