What is the status of my UnitedHealthcare insurance at Stamford Health?

The current agreement between UnitedHealthcare and Stamford Health (both Stamford Hospital and Stamford Health Medical Group) expires on January 31, 2026. Following the 60-day period required by law, Stamford Health will no longer be an in-network provider for UnitedHealthcare benefit plans as of April 1, 2026.

Which UnitedHealthcare health plans are affected?

All health plans including Commercial HMO and PPO, Oxford plans, and Medicare Advantage will be affected. Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap) are not affected.

Can I continue to receive my scheduled treatment at Stamford Health?

If you are currently in active treatment , such as those patients who are hospitalized, pregnant, or receiving chemotherapy, prior to the contract expiration date you may qualify for Continuity of Care services through UnitedHealthcare. Continuity of Care services allow patients to continue receiving medically necessary care from Stamford Health at in-network rates for a limited period of time. UnitedHealthcare will reach out to you about a Continuity of Care plan so that you can continue to receive your treatment at the in-network level. You can contact UnitedHealthcare at the phone number on the back of your identification card to discuss your eligibility. If you are not currently in active treatment but want to schedule services to take place after April 1, 2026, you can continue to receive services from Stamford Health. However, your UnitedHealthcare benefit plan may require you to pay higher out-of-pocket expenses. If you need emergency treatment , you can seek care at Stamford Hospital at any time. By law, your coverage for emergency care will not be affected in any way. UnitedHealthcare will provide in-network coverage for all emergency services performed in the emergency room.

What can I do to ensure that I have continued in-network access to Stamford Health?

If you would like to continue with in-network access to the high-quality care that Stamford Health provides, we participate with all major health plans such as Aetna, Cigna, ConnectiCare, and Anthem. You can contact your employer’s Human Resources Department to discuss your options. If you chose a Medicare Advantage plan, the open enrollment period is from January 1 - March 31, 2026, at which time you may switch to another Medicare Advantage plan. You can visit www.medicare.gov to enroll and guarantee your in-network access to Stamford Health. For more information on Medicare Advantage, you can visit 2026 Medicare Open Enrollment Period Dates | Medicare Enrollment Deadline | MedicareAdvantage.com .

What will my deductible and co-insurance or copayments be if Stamford Health is out-of-network?

While you can still receive care from your Stamford Health provider, UnitedHealthcare imposes penalties on patients for using out-of-network services so you may have higher co-insurance or deductibles. Should you have questions about out-of-network estimates, you can contact the Stamford Health Call Center at 855.775.7898. As always, please reach out to your Stamford Health physician’s office with any questions about your medical care.

If Stamford Health goes out-of-network with UnitedHealthcare, how long will it be for?

We will continue to negotiate with UnitedHealthcare in good faith and are working hard to reach an agreement that reimburses Stamford Health fairly for the care we provide. We hope that Stamford Health and UnitedHealthcare will be able to reach agreement quickly and we will keep you advised of any new information.

Stamford Health | UnitedHealthcare Negotiations

UnitedHealthcare Contract Update

We are currently negotiating a new contract with UnitedHealthcare but have not yet reached an agreement. Should our contract with UnitedHealthcare end, Stamford Health and our associated providers will be considered out-of-network.

For us, going out-of-network is always a last resort. We are doing everything in our power to continue caring for you, but we wanted to make you aware in advance because we value the trust you have placed in us. Please note that this will not impact you until April 1, 2026, and we hope to have a contract in place before then.

For decades, Stamford Health has been a cornerstone of care in our community, delivering high-quality, patient-centered healthcare to all, including some of our most vulnerable populations.

As an independent, local, not-for-profit health system:

More than 50% of our revenue is reinvested in the community, supporting healthcare access, economic growth, and regional development.
We provide more than $170 million annually in uncompensated care.
We are proud to be the #1 hospital in Fairfield County according to U.S. News & World Report, and one of the few hospitals in the state with Magnet status, and Planetree Gold Certification for person-centered care, reflecting our commitment to safety, innovation, and an exceptional patient experience.

Stamford Health remains committed to ongoing negotiations and hopes to reach a fair agreement soon to ensure continued access to high-quality care. Please check back here for any updates and lookout for future communications from Stamford Health.

For assistance or questions, patients can contact the Stamford Health Call Center at 855.775.7898 or reach out to their Stamford Health physician’s office.

FAQs UnitedHealthcare Contract & Coverage

What is the status of my UnitedHealthcare insurance at Stamford Health?

The current agreement between UnitedHealthcare and Stamford Health (both Stamford Hospital and Stamford Health Medical Group) expires on January 31, 2026. Following the 60-day period required by law, Stamford Health will no longer be an in-network provider for UnitedHealthcare benefit plans as of April 1, 2026.
Which UnitedHealthcare health plans are affected?

All health plans including Commercial HMO and PPO, Oxford plans, and Medicare Advantage will be affected. Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap) are not affected.
Can I continue to receive my scheduled treatment at Stamford Health?
If you are currently in active treatment, such as those patients who are hospitalized, pregnant, or receiving chemotherapy, prior to the contract expiration date you may qualify for Continuity of Care services through UnitedHealthcare. Continuity of Care services allow patients to continue receiving medically necessary care from Stamford Health at in-network rates for a limited period of time. UnitedHealthcare will reach out to you about a Continuity of Care plan so that you can continue to receive your treatment at the in-network level. You can contact UnitedHealthcare at the phone number on the back of your identification card to discuss your eligibility.

If you are not currently in active treatment but want to schedule services to take place after April 1, 2026, you can continue to receive services from Stamford Health. However, your UnitedHealthcare benefit plan may require you to pay higher out-of-pocket expenses.

If you need emergency treatment, you can seek care at Stamford Hospital at any time. By law, your coverage for emergency care will not be affected in any way. UnitedHealthcare will provide in-network coverage for all emergency services performed in the emergency room.
What can I do to ensure that I have continued in-network access to Stamford Health?
If you would like to continue with in-network access to the high-quality care that Stamford Health provides, we participate with all major health plans such as Aetna, Cigna, ConnectiCare, and Anthem.

You can contact your employer’s Human Resources Department to discuss your options.

If you chose a Medicare Advantage plan, the open enrollment period is from January 1 - March 31, 2026, at which time you may switch to another Medicare Advantage plan. You can visit www.medicare.gov to enroll and guarantee your in-network access to Stamford Health. For more information on Medicare Advantage, you can visit 2026 Medicare Open Enrollment Period Dates | Medicare Enrollment Deadline | MedicareAdvantage.com.
What will my deductible and co-insurance or copayments be if Stamford Health is out-of-network?
While you can still receive care from your Stamford Health provider, UnitedHealthcare imposes penalties on patients for using out-of-network services so you may have higher co-insurance or deductibles.

Should you have questions about out-of-network estimates, you can contact the Stamford Health Call Center at 855.775.7898.

As always, please reach out to your Stamford Health physician’s office with any questions about your medical care.
If Stamford Health goes out-of-network with UnitedHealthcare, how long will it be for?

We will continue to negotiate with UnitedHealthcare in good faith and are working hard to reach an agreement that reimburses Stamford Health fairly for the care we provide. We hope that Stamford Health and UnitedHealthcare will be able to reach agreement quickly and we will keep you advised of any new information.