UF Health patients who use UnitedHealthcare could lose their coverage starting Sept. 1.
The two companies have been in contract negotiations for the past several months, and UF Health, which operates 12 hospitals and more than 140 primary care clinics across the state, said it is still waiting for United to respond with a “fair and sustainable proposal.”
This includes streamlining the billing process and reducing administrative requirements, UF Health said in a statement to The Alligator.
“Insurance companies like UnitedHealthcare are reporting billions of dollars in record profits, while health systems like UF Health are struggling to meet their mission of serving patients and communities while shouldering rising costs,” the statement said.
Unless the situation changes by the end of August, thousands of patients across Florida will experience “unnecessary disruptions” to their access to ongoing care, UF Health said. Statewide, the U.S. It insures 3.7 million people in Florida. Across approximately 250 hospitals.
Student Coverage
UF students who are insured by United through the university’s Student Health Insurance Plan will be able to continue receiving care at all UF Health facilities without impact, regardless of the outcome, UF Health said.
Students who have insurance through a parent can continue to receive care at the on-campus UF Student Health Center in Gainesville, but not at other UF Health facilities, the company said.
However, in a statement to The Alligator, United Airlines did not say whether students would be exempt from the loss of coverage.
Instead, a spokesperson said in an emailed statement that if no agreement is reached, all UF Health hospitals, facilities and physicians will be out of network for all private, Medicaid and Student Resource Plan users by September.
When the discrepancy was brought to UF Health’s attention, the organization reiterated that students were not affected and suggested United may have omitted the exception from its statement because its contract with UF Health differs from its contract with UF Student Services, the latter of which pays a fee to insurance companies to coordinate students’ health care.
According to an open records request at the University of Florida, about 5,000 to 7,000 students are currently enrolled in the United Student Resource Plan, which students are required to purchase unless they can prove they already have comparable insurance.
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The cost of the United Student Resources Basic Annual Plan for University of Florida students is $3,135 for the 2024-2025 academic year, according to a policyholder application provided to the Alligator. The academic year plan is valid from Aug. 16, 2024, to Aug. 15, 2025.
Non-student insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid
Non-student patients who have insurance through their employer or are enrolled in a Medicaid plan will no longer be able to receive coverage at UF Health facilities in the state starting Sept. 1, according to United.
But only UF Health St. John’s patients will lose their Medicare coverage. Now part of the UF Health organization last year.
Of the 64,000 people age 65 or older living in St. Johns County, 96.7% are enrolled in Medicare, according to 2022 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The county’s share of the elderly population and the share of those on Medicare are not significantly different from the state averages. Neither UF nor United would say why only St. Johns County patients would lose their Medicare coverage.
People with Medicare plans at other UF Health hospitals and health care facilities, including UF Health Gainesville, Jacksonville and The Villages Regional Hospital, can continue to receive care as usual.
UF Health psychiatric hospitals and UF Health Central Florida facilities will not be affected, and United said they will remain in the network regardless of the outcome of negotiations.
United said in a statement that it is proposing rates that ensure UF Health receives coverage on par with peer health systems and that health care remains affordable for consumers and businesses in North Florida.
“We urge the health care system to come to the table with a proposal that Florida families and local businesses can afford,” the statement said.
United Airlines has been battling health systems across the country over the past few months.
That includes North Carolina-based Duke Health, where patients There will be no compensation If the networks can’t reach an agreement, they will drop out of United’s Medicare Advantage network at the end of October. HealthPartners, a Minnesota-based nonprofit provider, will also drop out of United’s Medicare Advantage network starting next year.
in Online Statement Last updated: July 31, United Airlines responded to frequently asked questions regarding its dispute with UF Health.
People undergoing treatment, such as pregnant people or newly diagnosed cancer patients, may be eligible for the Continuum of Care program even if UF Health and United don’t reach an agreement, according to the website. Those patients have until Sept. 30 to apply.
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Zoe Thomas is a sophomore media production major and college administration reporter for The Alligator. She previously wrote for the Metro desk. In addition to reporter, Zoe’s other titles include espresso expert, long distance runner, and Wes Anderson enthusiast.
