Fred Hutchinson in Washington

Important information regarding our Medicare Advantage relationship with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Washington

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Fred Hutch) in Seattle will no longer be in UnitedHealthcare’s network for people enrolled in the following plans, effective Jan. 1, 2027:

  • Individual Medicare Advantage plans
  • Chronic Special Needs Plan (C-SNP)
  • Institutional Special Needs Plan (I-SNP) 

UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in the following plans remain in-network and may continue accessing cancer care at Fred Hutch:

  • Employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans
  • Group Retiree plans
  • Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNP)
  • Medicare Supplement plans

University of Washington providers who practice at Fred Hutch are not impacted and remain in network for all benefit plans.

We understand how important it is to have access to quality care – especially when facing something as serious as cancer. That is why we are notifying our members during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to inform them Fred Hutch will be out of network.

Letters are being mailed to impacted members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Individual Medicare Advantage, C-SNP, and I-SNP plans to inform them of this change.

Continued access to care

We understand how important it is to have access to quality care – especially when facing something as serious as cancer.

While individual provider relationships may change from time to time, the members we are privileged to serve will continue to have ample access to a broad network of cancer centers and oncology specialists across Washington.

For support finding in-network physicians and hospitals, members can call the customer care number on their health plan ID card or visit their plan’s website:

UnitedHealthcare members who are in the middle of cancer treatment at Fred Hutch are eligible to continue their care at in-network costs.

Continuity of care allows people in the middle of treatment at the time a provider leaves our network to continue accessing care with their provider for a period of time.

UnitedHealthcare members must apply and be approved for continuity of care.

For information regarding how to apply and whether they might be eligible for continuity of care, members should call the number on their health plan ID card. 

In the event of an emergency, UnitedHealthcare members should go to the nearest hospital and will be covered at the in-network benefit level, regardless of whether the hospital participates in our network.

Facts you should know

Our responsibility is to ensure members continue to have access to high-quality care while keeping coverage affordable and sustainable

We value and appreciate the profound impact cancer has on the lives of our members, and we want people to have access to the best care possible.

However, we also have a responsibility to make sure that care is affordable so it’s accessible for all the members we serve.

We routinely evaluate our provider networks and negotiate contracts with health systems and physicians. These discussions are guided by our goal of delivering the greatest value to members by balancing access, quality and affordability.

As health care costs continue to rise, we must make decisions that help maintain the long-term viability of benefits and access.

Medicare Advantage plans across the country are faced with increasing medical costs, higher utilization and continued pressures on program funding.

As we balance access and affordability, every network decision at UnitedHealthcare is evaluated through the lens of what is best for our members.

We are committed to providing seniors access to high-quality care while protecting them from unnecessary cost increases and helping preserve the affordability of their coverage.