Lee Health ending contracts with UnitedHealthcare starting in 2027

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — Lee Health is ending its hospital and physician contracts with UnitedHealthcare, effective Dec. 31, according to its website.

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Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Lee Health hospitals and physicians will be out-of-network for affected UnitedHealthcare employer-based, individual and Medicare Advantage plans.

Lee Health hospitals and physicians remain in-network with UnitedHealthcare plans through Dec. 31., except that UnitedHealthcare has taken the position that Lee Health is not currently part of UnitedHealthcare Exchange/Marketplace plans.

Patients are encouraged to continue scheduling and receiving care and to keep any appointments, tests or procedures scheduled through the end of this year.

Some patients may qualify to continue seeing their Lee Health providers at in-network rates for a limited time through UnitedHealthcare's Continuity of Care process or as otherwise required by law. Patients should call the number on the back of their UnitedHealthcare insurance card as soon as possible to ask about Continuity of Care and find out how to apply.

If a plan has out-of-network benefits, patients may be able to continue receiving services from Lee Health hospitals and physicians, but they may face higher out-of-pocket costs or other coverage limitations. Federal law requires emergency care to be available regardless of whether the hospital is in a patient's insurance plan's network.

Click here for more information on the changes.