UnitedHealthcare and MU Health Care have reached a renewed agreement to extend their contract amid uncertain negotiations between MU Health Care and Anthem with a nearing deadline.
The contract extension between MU Health Care and UnitedHealthcare will continue to give access to affordable care through MU Health Care’s providers, according to a news release.
The extension applies to commercial members of UnitedHealthcare that receive insurance from their employer or get access through the Affordable Care Act, as well as Medicare Advantage plans, according to MU Health Care.
The contract extension between MU Health Care and UnitedHealthcare comes less than a week before the deadline for MU Health Care to finalize negotiations with another provider.
Anthem negotiations approaching deadline
MU Health Care and Anthem have until March 31 to finalize negotiations before Anthem customers lose in-network access to MU Health Care.
There have been multiple meetings between the two companies this week, but negotiations have seen little progress.
MU Health Care proposes a 39% price increase, four times the inflation rate, to take place over the next three years. Anthem is against this increase, stating it would bring health care to an unaffordable rate.
MU Health Care sent an email to students and customers on Monday night relaying information on the status of this process. MU Health Care said it is likely that Anthem customers will be out of network with MU Health Care for a period, according to KOMU 8 reporting.
The deadline to reach an agreement is Monday before Anthem customers lose in-network access to MU Health Care April 1.
Reports of negotiations date back to July 2024.
