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.
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Source: NewYork-Presbyterian
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