Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
We are actively negotiating with Sarasota Memorial Health Care System to renew our network relationship for our Medicare Advantage plans
We know how important it is for people to have access to the doctors and hospitals they know and trust. That is why we continue to work hard to reach an agreement with Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (Sarasota Memorial) that is affordable and sustainable for the people we serve.
Our current agreement remains in effect through Dec. 31, 2026. In the event we are unable renew our relationship, Sarasota Memorial will be out of network for our Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNP), beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
As members navigate this potential change, we want to remind them of the following
People in active or ongoing treatment for certain serious or complex conditions at a Sarasota Memorial hospital or with a Sarasota Memorial physician at the time they go out of network are eligible for continuity of care.
Continuity of care provides continued in-network benefits for a limited period of time after a provider goes out of network.
UnitedHealthcare members who need assistance in helping determine whether they might be eligible or how to apply should call the number on their health plan ID card. Our dedicated team of advocates are ready to help them every step of the way.
Should Sarasota Memorial leave our network, UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in a Group Retiree PPO plan may still receive care at the health system as an out-of-network provider should they agree to see them.
The share of the cost will be the same for Group Retiree PPO members as if the provider was part of the network. We encourage UnitedHealthcare Group Retiree members to speak with Fairview Health to confirm they’ll continue to see them, regardless of their network status.
People enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan will continue to have access to Sarasota Memorial
Medicare Supplement plans are not impacted by our negotiation. People enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan continue to have access to all of Sarasota Memorial’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians, even if the health system goes out of network on Jan. 1, 2027.
The people we serve will continue to have access to a large network of hospitals, physicians and specialists who are ready to provide quality, affordable care, should Sarasota Memorial choose to leave our network.
UnitedHealthcare members should call the number on their health plan ID card should they need assistance finding another provider. They can also use the provider directories to search for alternative hospitals and doctors:
- Medicare Advantage and D-SNP provider directory: myaarpmedicare.com
- Group Retiree provider directory: retiree.uhc.com
We're here for you
We know the possibility of network changes can be difficult. We want our members to know we’re here to help answer their questions, understand their options and connect them with the care and support they need every step of the way.
We have created the following FAQs to provide people key information regarding what this means for them and next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Our top priority is to renew our network relationship with Sarasota Memorial and maintain continued, long-term access to the health system. However, if we are unable to reach an agreement, Sarasota Memorial’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians will be out of network for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP), beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
People enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan will continue to have access to all of Sarasota Memorial’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians, even if the health system goes out of network on Jan. 1, 2027. Medicare Supplement plans are not impacted by our negotiation.
If we are unable to reach an agreement, Sarasota Memorial will be out of network for Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) and Group Retiree plans, beginning Jan. 1, 2027:
People enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan continue to have access to all of Sarasota Memorial’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians, even if the health system goes out of network on Jan. 1, 2027. Medicare Supplement plans are not impacted by our negotiation.
We negotiate thousands of provider contracts every year, and the vast majority of those negotiations result in renewed contracts with no disruption for our members, and also no external noise as the negotiations are handled professionally and behind closed doors.
Unfortunately, a small number of health systems such as Sarasota Memorial choose to put their patients in the middle of these negotiations, presumably as leverage to help obtain price hikes that are not affordable for the people we serve.
Since 2020, Sarasota Memorial has been involved in five public negotiations with four different health plans, creating uncertainty, stress and confusion for patients.
While we are disappointed in Sarasota Memorial’s actions, we remain focused on reaching a long-term agreement that maintains uninterrupted network access to the health system’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians. Our discussions with Sarasota Memorial are guided by a simple goal: ensuring seniors have access to high-quality care, while protecting them from unnecessary cost increases and preserving the affordability and long-term viability of the benefits they rely on.
We remain committed to negotiating in good faith and working toward solutions that maintain access to quality and affordable care for the people we serve. We hope Sarasota Memorial shares that commitment and joins us at the negotiating table.
We are doing everything we can to reach an agreement and will remain at the negotiating table as long as it takes. We ask Sarasota Memorial to join us at the negotiating table and do what’s in the best interests of the communities we serve.
Yes. People enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan continue to have access to all of Sarasota Memorial’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians, even if the health system goes out of network on Jan. 1, 2027. Medicare Supplement plans are not impacted by our negotiation.
UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in a Group Retiree PPO plan may still receive care at Sarasota Memorial as an out-of-network provider should they agree to see them.
The share of the cost will be the same for Group Retiree PPO members as if the provider was part of the network. We encourage UnitedHealthcare Group Retiree members to speak with Sarasota Memorial to confirm they’ll continue to see them, regardless of their network status.
For additional information about our Group Retiree plan as well as information on how to find a provider, UnitedHealthcare members should go to retiree.uhc.com.
Continuity of care allows UnitedHealthcare members in active treatment for certain serious or complex conditions with a provider at the time they left our network to continue receiving in-network benefits with their provider for a period of time after they went out of network.
UnitedHealthcare members must apply and be approved for continuity of care. People can apply at any time from now through 30 days after a provider has left our network. They should call the number on their health plan ID card if they need assistance or have questions. Our dedicated team of advocates are ready to support them every step of the way.
The people we serve will continue to have access to a large network of providers throughout the region should Sarasota Memorial leave our network.
UnitedHealthcare members should call the number on their health plan ID card if they need assistance finding another provider. They can also use the provider directories to search for alternative hospitals and doctors:
- Medicare Advantage and D-SNP provider directory: myaarpmedicare.com
- Group Retiree provider directory: retiree.uhc.com
UnitedHealthcare members should always go to the nearest hospital in the event of an emergency. Their services will be covered at the in-network benefit level, regardless of whether the hospital participates in UnitedHealthcare’s network.