Carriers & the market
UnitedHealthcare and NewYork-Presbyterian Medicare Advantage Contract Expires September 30 With No Deal Announced
Update, September 29: another extension moved the deadline to October 31. The extension keeping NewYork-Presbyterian in-network for most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members runs out in one week. If no agreement is reached, NYP hospitals and physician groups become out-of-network on October 1, three weeks before open enrollment starts.
By the Goodsurance editorial teamSeptember 23, 2026
Update, November 1, 2026: The two sides extended again. NewYork-Presbyterian stays in network for most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members through November 30, 2026. Patients in an active course of treatment before December 1 stay in network through February 28, 2027.
Update, September 29, 2026: The two sides agreed to another extension. NewYork-Presbyterian stays in network for most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members through October 31, 2026. The September 30 deadline in this story no longer applies.
UHC and NewYork-Presbyterian have one week to reach a deal. Here is what Medicare Advantage members need to know before October 1.
The fourth extension between NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP) and UnitedHealthcare is set to expire September 30, 2026, and as of September 23 no new contract agreement has been publicly announced. If the two sides do not reach a deal by that date, all NYP hospitals and the practices of the NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Groups will be treated as out-of-network providers for most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members starting October 1. AARP Medigap policies and Group Retiree PPO plans are not affected. The prior deadline was August 31.
The potential disruption falls three weeks before the Annual Enrollment Period opens October 15, the window when Medicare Advantage members can switch plans for 2027.
NYP's public information page states that patients in an active course of outpatient or inpatient treatment before October 1 can continue receiving scheduled care at in-network cost-sharing rates through December 29, 2026. Members who are pregnant when the contract ends will remain in-network through delivery and postpartum care. After December 29, additional visits would be treated as out-of-network unless UnitedHealthcare approves an exception.
Members who regularly receive care at NYP have several steps to consider. They can verify whether they qualify for a continuity-of-care exception, ask UnitedHealthcare about in-network alternatives, or use the Annual Enrollment Period between October 15 and December 7 to switch to a plan that includes NYP in its 2027 network. Beneficiaries who cannot find a Medicare Advantage plan covering NYP may also consider switching to Original Medicare with a separate supplement policy during that window.
This is the fourth time the parties have extended their agreement in 2026, following prior deadlines in spring, summer, and early September.
In plain words
Update, September 29: There is a new deadline. The two sides extended the deal again. NYP stays in network for most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members until October 31. The September 30 date below is old news.
UnitedHealthcare and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital have been working on a new contract for months. They have extended it several times. The current deal runs out September 30. That is one week away. No new deal has been announced. Starting October 1, NYP hospitals and doctors could be out-of-network for most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members. That means you could pay more when you go there. If you were already getting treatment at NYP before October 1, your care stays covered at the lower rate through December 29. Starting October 15, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan during open enrollment.
Understand the basics first
Source: NewYork-Presbyterian
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