Our commitment to our members and customers

We understand how disruptive it can be for our members if their hospital or physician no longer participates in our network. But we also know that rising health care costs are putting pressure on family budgets and making it harder for people to afford the care they need. Our members count on us to provide them with access to care that is not only high quality but also affordable. That is why we want to keep MercyOne in our network but at reasonable, market-competitive rates.

We remain committed to working with MercyOne and are hopeful we can reach a resolution that maintains network access to its providers. But we also want to reassure our members that they will continue to have access to a robust network of hospitals and physicians should MercyOne leave our network.

Offering a choice of hundreds of hospitals and thousands of in-network physicians throughout Iowa and western Illinois

Our top priority is ensuring the people we serve have access to the quality care they need and deserve. In the event MercyOne leaves our network, we are committed to collaborating with the health system to help ensure the people we serve experience a smooth transition to a new provider, as appropriate. 

It’s important to note that UnitedHealthcare members will continue to have access to a broad network of hospitals, facilities and physicians throughout Iowa and western Illinois that are readily able to provide quality care that meets their needs should MercyOne leave our network. Our members can still choose from nearly 100 hospitals and 5,000 physicians throughout Iowa, with additional hospitals in western Illinois. You can call the number on their health plan ID card or use the provider directory on our websites to search for hospitals, facilities and physicians: 

  • myuhc.com for members enrolled in individual or employer-sponsored plans
  • myuhcmedicare.com for members enrolled in individual Medicare Advantage plans
  • retiree.uhc.com for members enrolled in Group Retiree Medicare Advantage plans

In the event MercyOne leaves our network, people enrolled in our Group Retiree Medicare Advantage PPO plans may still receive care from a MercyOne physician or facility as an out-of-network provider, if they are a Medicare-approved provider that accepts the plan. Their share of the cost will be the same as if they were part of the network for some or all services. UnitedHealthcare Group Retiree Medicare Advantage members are encouraged to speak with their physician to confirm they’ll continue to see them, regardless of their network status.

You should always go to the nearest hospital in the event of an emergency. Your services will be covered at the in-network benefit level, regardless of whether the hospital participates in UnitedHealthcare’s network.

Continuity of Care

UnitedHealthcare members who are in the middle of treatment at Loyola Health may qualify for continuity of care, which provides continued in-network benefits for a specified period of time after a hospital or physician leaves our network. A few examples of patients who may qualify include:

  • Women who are pregnant
  • Patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed cancer, or those currently in active cancer treatment

Members who have questions about continuity of care or alternative physicians in their area should call the number on the back of their health plan ID card.

Continuity of Care