Huntsville Hospital Health System announced Thursday it has sent a notice of termination to UnitedHealthcare.
The decision came, according to a statement from the system, after “several months of disappointing negotiations” with the “insurance giant.”
“HH Health made the difficult decision to end the participation agreement between the insurer and HH Health member hospitals,” the system said in a statement. “The decision impacts United’s commercial health insurance and Medicare Advantage plans. It does not impact United’s VA managed care plan for veterans.”
According to HH Health, patients who have UnitedHealthcare insurance may continue to use Huntsville Hospital Health System as an out-of-network hospital.
Retired educators (PEEHIP) or retired state employees (SEIB) with UHC Medicare coverage will see no impact on out-of-pocket expenses, according to the system.
Among the hospitals in the HH Health System:
- Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield will be leave the United network on Oct. 15.
- Highlands Medical Center in Scottsboro will leave Oct. 31.
- Huntsville Hospital and Madison Hospital will become out-of-network hospitals on Nov. 14.
- Decatur Morgan Hospital will no longer be participating Nov. 30.
- The remaining HH System hospitals will exit in 2025.
Based in Minnesota, UnitedHealthcare is the insurance brand of UnitedHealth Group, the world’s largest health care company by revenue. Attempts to reach the company for comment were not immediately successful.
According to Huntsville Hospital, UnitedHealthcare has not paid it the amount contractually owed from the current agreement and has a denial rate on patient claims that is 75 percent higher than other similar insurers.
“The decision was not made hastily, and we continue to pursue a resolution,” HH Health System said in its release. “For more than a year, HH Health has been working towards a mutually beneficial contract with UnitedHealthcare. To date, HH’s efforts have not been met with the same level of care from the Fortune 500 Company.”
UnitedHealthcare subscribers who have questions should contact UnitedHealthcare at 1-877-298-2341. CMS Medicare Open Enrollment begins Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.
Patients can view plan options at the Medicare website.
