Virtua Health
We are actively working with Virtua Health to reach an agreement that is affordable for people and employers
What members need to know
We are engaged in active discussions with Virtua Health in New Jersey with the goal of reaching an agreement that is affordable while maintaining continued network access to the health system.
Our current contract with Virtua remains in effect through Dec. 31, 2026, for people enrolled in the following UnitedHealthcare benefit plans:
- Employer-sponsored commercial plans, including UMR and Surest
- Individual and Family Plans
- Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree
If we are unable to reach an agreement, Virtua’s hospitals, facilities and physicians would be out of network in New Jersey for these UnitedHealthcare benefit plans beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
Our commitment to reaching an agreement
We continue to negotiate in good faith and have proposed rate increases that would reimburse Virtua at market-competitive rates while balancing the affordability needs of consumers and employers.
We remain at the negotiating table and are committed to productive discussions. Our goal is to renew our agreement so members can maintain in-network access to the providers they know and trust while helping keep health care affordable for New Jersey families and seniors.
Supporting our members
We know the care Virtua provides is important and personal to our members. We also understand how disruptive it can be when a health system no longer participates in our network.
Affected members will soon receive information about what this means for them, including how to find alternative providers in their area that meet their health care needs and whether they may qualify for continuity of care.
As members navigate this potential change, we want to remind them of the following:
Frequently asked questions
About the negotiation
Virtua Health issued a notice to end our current contract. We are engaged in active discussions with Virtua with the goal of reaching an agreement that is affordable while maintaining continued network access to the health system.
We continue to compromise in the spirit of good-faith negotiation and have proposed rate increases that would reimburse Virtua at market-competitive rates. Our top priority is to reach an agreement that is affordable for people and employers while maintaining continued network access to the health system.
We are actively negotiating to renew our network relationship with Virtua for people enrolled in the following UnitedHealthcare benefit plans:
- Employer-sponsored commercial plans, including UMR and Surest
- Individual and Family Plans
- Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree
Our goal is to use the remaining time on our contract to reach an agreement that is affordable for New Jersey families and employers while maintaining uninterrupted network access to Virtua.
Our current contract with Virtua remains in effect through Dec. 31, 2026, for people enrolled in the following UnitedHealthcare benefit plans:
- Employer-sponsored commercial plans, including UMR and Surest
- Individual and Family Plans
- Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree
If we are unable to reach an agreement, Virtua’s hospitals, facilities and physicians would be out of network in New Jersey for these UnitedHealthcare benefit plans beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
What's next
If a member is receiving treatment from a Virtua hospital, facility or physician when the provider leaves our network, the member may qualify for continuity of care. Continuity of care allows eligible members to continue receiving in-network benefits from the provider for a specified period after the provider leaves our network. Examples of members who may qualify include:
- People who are pregnant
- Patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed cancer, or those currently receiving active cancer treatment
UnitedHealthcare members must apply and be approved for continuity of care. Members who have questions about continuity of care or alternative hospitals, facilities and physicians should call the number on their health plan ID card. Members can also use the provider directory on the UnitedHealthcare member website to search for participating hospitals, facilities and physicians.
If Virtua leaves our network, members enrolled in Group Retiree PPO plans may still receive care from a Virtua provider or facility on an out-of-network basis if the provider is Medicare-approved and accepts the plan. Their share of the cost will be the same as if the provider participated in the network.
Group Retiree members should speak with their physician to confirm whether the physician will continue to see them, regardless of network status. For additional information about Group Retiree plans or help finding a provider, members should visit UnitedHealthcare Retiree.
UnitedHealthcare members should go to the nearest emergency room in an emergency. Emergency services will be covered at the in-network benefit level, regardless of whether the hospital participates in our network.