Goodsurance

Carriers & the market

NewYork-Presbyterian and UnitedHealthcare Reach a Fifth Extension, Keeping Medicare Advantage In Network Through October 31

A new short-term agreement averts an October 1 termination and gives negotiations one more month, as members who rely on NewYork-Presbyterian facilities watch for further developments.

By the Goodsurance editorial teamSeptember 29, 2026

NewYork-Presbyterian and UnitedHealthcare have agreed to a fifth consecutive short-term extension of their Medicare Advantage network agreement, with the new deadline set for October 31, 2026, according to information posted on NewYork-Presbyterian's patient-facing website. The extension arrived one day before the previous September 30 deadline was set to expire.

Under the continued arrangement, most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members retain in-network access to NewYork-Presbyterian hospitals and affiliated medical group practices. Physicians associated with ColumbiaDoctors and Weill Cornell Medicine remain separately contracted and in-network regardless of the hospital negotiation. Members enrolled in Group Retiree PPO plans and those with AARP Medigap policies are not affected by the hospital contract dispute.

NYP and UHC just reached a fifth short-term extension. Medicare Advantage in-network access holds through October 31, with a new deadline looming November 1.

If the parties do not reach a longer agreement before October 31, most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members would lose in-network access to NewYork-Presbyterian hospital facilities starting November 1, 2026. Patients already in an active course of treatment may qualify for continuity-of-care protections running through January 29, 2027, under federal rules.

The contract dispute has stretched across most of 2026, with five successive short-term bridges substituting for a permanent agreement. The Annual Enrollment Period opens October 15 and runs through December 7, 2026, giving members an opportunity to compare and switch plans for 2027. CMS guidance also allows members affected by a mid-year network disruption to apply for a Special Enrollment Period. Members with scheduled procedures or ongoing care at NewYork-Presbyterian should confirm their current coverage status and review alternative plan options at medicare.gov.

In plain words

NewYork-Presbyterian and UnitedHealthcare made another short deal. Medicare Advantage members can still use NYP hospitals as in-network through October 31. This is the fifth short deal between the two groups this year. If they do not agree on a longer contract by October 31, most members will go out of network at NYP on November 1. People already getting treatment may have some extra protections for a little while longer. Open enrollment opens October 15 and runs through December 7. You can use medicare.gov to look at other plan options.

Understand the basics first

Source: NewYork-Presbyterian
Read at the source →

More news

Other stories on what is moving in Medicare.

Carriers & the market

Federal Audit Estimates UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas Owes at Least 24.4 Million Dollars in Medicare Advantage Overpayments

Auditors found that medical records did not support most sampled diagnosis codes submitted for 2020 and 2021, adding to a long-running series of federal reviews targeting high-risk coding in Medicare Advantage.

September 28, 2026

Carriers & the market

HCSC Will Fully Exit Medicare Advantage in Connecticut, New York, and Washington D.C. for 2027

The company entered those three markets through its 2025 Cigna acquisition. Enrollees there will need to choose new coverage before the December 7 deadline.

September 26, 2026

Carriers & the market

UnitedHealthcare and NewYork-Presbyterian Medicare Advantage Contract Expires September 30 With No Deal Announced

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.

September 23, 2026

Carriers & the market

CMS Closed Its Medicare Advantage Billing Enforcement Case Against Elevance After the Insurer Paid Approximately 342 Million Dollars

The case began in February with a threat to halt new enrollments over unsupported diagnosis codes. CMS declared the enforcement process finished in July after Elevance completed all required corrective steps.

September 22, 2026

Carriers & the market

Molina Healthcare Is Exiting Traditional Medicare Advantage for 2027, and Non-Renewal Notices Are Due to About 117,000 Members

Molina announced earlier this year that its standard Medicare Advantage-prescription drug product did not fit its strategy, and affected members are now in the window when they should expect to receive non-renewal notices before the October 15 open enrollment start.

September 19, 2026

Carriers & the market

HCSC Will Exit More Than 100 Medicare Advantage Counties for 2027, Redirecting Focus to Managed Care Plan Types

Health Care Service Corporation, which expanded its Healthspring-branded Medicare Advantage presence nationwide after acquiring Cigna's Medicare business in 2025, is now scaling back that footprint for 2027, exiting more than 100 counties while concentrating on HMOs and special needs plans.

September 19, 2026