Important Information for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Members

Brown Health and UnitedHealthCare have not renewed our hospital contract for their Medicare Advantage plan, with the exception of United’s Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Institutional Special Needs Plans (ISNP).

Brown Health aimed to reach an agreement that provided fair reimbursement and less administrative burden for patients. While we made every effort to reach a fair agreement, UnitedHealthcare ultimately chose to end negotiations.

This means that as of July 1, 2025, all of Brown Health’s Rhode Island hospitals (Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children’s, The Miriam Hospital, and Newport Hospital) are considered "out of network" for members of United’s Medicare Advantage plan.

Special Enrollment Period Announced

Medicare has now authorized a Special Enrollment Period specifically for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members in Rhode Island.

This means that if you wish, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or traditional Medicare, that includes all Brown Health hospitals, physicians and services in its network, including labs, medical imaging and rehabilitation services.

The change would be immediate: The Special Enrollment Period allows you to choose a new plan without waiting for the usual annual enrollment dates, and without waiting for the new calendar year for the plan to be effective.

You should be receiving a letter from United to notify you about this opportunity. If you have not yet received the letter, call United at 1-800-711-0646 and ask, or call the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) hotline at 1-888-884-8721.

For more information about the CMS Special Enrollment, please visit:

What You Need to Know

Please note that this does not impact Brown University Health hospitals in Massachusetts, which remain in network.

1. Physician Services Are Still In-Network

If you see a Brown Health physician or use urgent care services, nothing changes. Physician services remain in-network for all patients through June 2026.

2. Hospital Costs May Increase for Some UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Members

If you have a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan, you may pay higher out-of-pocket costs for hospital services at Brown Health after Tuesday, July 1.
Contact UnitedHealthcare at 1-800-711-0646 or visit United’s website to understand your specific coverage and financial responsibility.

3. No Impact on Other Insurance Types

This change does not affect patients with with United Healthcare’s:

Commercial plans

Medicaid plans

Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) Medicare Advantage plan)

Institutional Special Needs Plans (ISNP)

All services remain in-network for these insurance types.

4. Medicare Open Enrollment Options

You can change your Medicare plan during the annual enrollment period (October 15 to December 7) OR you can take advantage of the special enrollment period outlined above and change as soon as you are notified by United.

5. Continuity of Care May Be Available

Some patients may qualify for temporary protections to continue receiving care at Brown Health hospitals.

Call UnitedHealthcare to find out if you are eligible.