Our Commitment to Patients

At Ascension Saint Thomas, we're focused on serving our communities and extending our mission to care for all, by providing the highest quality and clinically excellent care  for the patients we're privileged to serve. We regularly negotiate with insurance companies to ensure market competitive contracts that support the sustainability of our care and our people. Our current contract with United Healthcare (UHC) expires on September 15, 2026.

We are currently in discussions with UHC to reach a new fair and sustainable agreement that reflects today’s healthcare realities — including historic inflation, rising medication prices and increased costs for life-saving equipment and supplies.

What This Means for Patients

If Ascension Saint Thomas and UHC do not reach a new agreement by September 15, 2026, Ascension Saint Thomas hospitals, clinics and employed doctors will become out-of-network for patients with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans.

Key Points

  • Emergency care remains covered — regardless of your insurance network status.
  • Non-emergency care may be subject to higher out-of-network costs (copays and deductibles) or may not be covered.
  • Patients in active treatment may qualify for temporary in-network coverage under continuity of care laws.
  • Ascension Saint Thomas hospitals and doctors will remain in-network for UHC Medicaid members.

Why This Is Happening

Ascension Saint Thomas doctors, nurses and associates continue to provide exceptional care through unprecedented challenges — even as healthcare costs have soared. Meanwhile, insurers like UHC have reported record profits. We are simply asking for market competitive, sustainable reimbursement rates that support delivering the level of care our patients deserve.

What’s Next

As of now, nothing has changed for UHC members. You can continue to see your Ascension Saint Thomas doctors and visit our hospitals and clinics as usual. We remain committed to negotiating what we believe is a fair and reasonable agreement with UHC to prevent any disruption to your care.

What You Can Do

  1. Contact UHC: Call the number on the back of your UHC insurance card. Let them know you want Ascension Saint Thomas to remain in-network.
  2. Talk to Your Employer: If you have UHC coverage through your job, speak with your HR department. Let them know how important it is for you and your family to keep access to Ascension Saint Thomas providers.
  3. Review Your Coverage Options: Explore other plan options during open enrollment this fall to ensure coverage with Ascension Saint Thomas.

Our Promise

We are committed to continuing these discussions in good faith and ensuring that patients remain at the center of every decision.

Thank you for trusting Ascension Saint Thomas with your care.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What does contract termination mean for my employees/organization/constituents?

    This means UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage members could be considered out-of-network for non-emergent care at Ascension Saint Thomas facilities and patients will no longer have in-network coverage to their trusted Ascension Saint Thomas-employed doctors and nurses, which could result in higher out-of-pocket costs.

    Without a new agreement, our current contract with UnitedHealthcare (UHC) will end on September 15, 2026. As a result, Ascension Saint Thomas hospitals, clinics and outpatient facilities would be out-of-network for UHC members seeking non-emergent care.

    This means UHC members in Tennessee could lose affordable access to non-emergent and specialty services that are only available at Ascension Saint Thomas locations.

  • What happens if I or a dependent is in the middle of a course of treatment (e.g., pregnancy, radiation therapy, etc.)?

    Certain conditions may be eligible for Continuity of Care which would provide approved patients the opportunity to continue seeing their current care team at in-network rates for a certain period, even if Ascension Saint Thomas is out of network with UHC. Patients must apply for Continuity of Care through UHC, and they will review and approve or deny those applications on a case-by-case basis.

  • How will this impact access to emergency care in the area?

    Emergency care is available regardless of insurance plans. Community members will still have access to emergency services across Ascension Saint Thomas sites of care.

  • What other insurance companies is Ascension in network with?

    Ascension Saint Thomas participates with all major insurance companies, such as Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Humana, but always confirm with your provider’s office for the most updated information.

  • What can I do to help keep my coverage to Ascension Saint Thomas care facilities and providers?

    Please let UHC know that you want Ascension Saint Thomas to remain in your network of medical care providers by calling UHC Customer Service at the phone number on your member identification card.

  • How quickly do you think this can get resolved?

    We would like this resolved before September 15, 2026, which is the end of the current contract. We are working diligently to agree on competitive and sustainable terms so none of our patients are negatively impacted or experience a potential disruption in care. It is important to us that our patients maintain their ability to have in-network coverage with the Ascension Saint Thomas providers they trust.

  • If the contract is terminated, is there any indication that discussions will continue and that an agreement could occur at a later date?

    Ascension Saint Thomas is a compassionate and committed healthcare provider and our priority is to avoid a termination with UHC. We are attempting to negotiate fair, market competitive  reimbursement and contract terms and will be open to doing so in the future.

  • Does this impact Medicare and Medicaid members?

    There is a possibility that Medicare Advantage members will no longer have in-network access to Ascension Saint Thomas hospitals, clinics and outpatient facilities, beginning September 15, 2026, if an agreement with UHC is not reached before that date. This termination would not impact Medicaid members.

  • What if a constituent/patient doesn’t have access to an alternate participating provider or a particular service is not available?

    This is the type of situation we want to avoid and that’s why it is so important that we come to an appropriate agreement. Should UHC not accept new terms, their members could lose in-network benefits to low-cost, quality care available at Ascension Saint Thomas facilities, effective September 15, 2026.

    We encourage patients to learn more details about the impact to their coverage, express concerns, and share how important it is to resolve this issue quickly and reasonably by calling the phone number on the back of their UHC insurance card.

  • What about Ascension Living? Will I/my family member lose access if we have UnitedHealthcare?

    No. The contract termination does not include Ascension Living.

  • Can I get an appointment moved to an earlier date before I lose in-network coverage?

    Please contact your site of care directly to see if an earlier appointment is available.

  • What locations are impacted by this negotiation?

    All Ascension Saint Thomas locations.