University of Miami’s UHealth is warning that its contract talks with UnitedHealthcare could fall apart as soon as Aug. 1, a breakup that might leave thousands of Miami patients paying more to see the doctors they already have. The fight centers on how, and how much, UnitedHealthcare reimburses UHealth for hospital and specialist care. If the clock runs out, many South Florida patients could be stuck with steeper bills or the hassle of shifting long-running treatment to new in-network providers.
As reported by the Miami Herald, the two sides have until July 31 to reach a new contract. If no deal is signed, UHealth hospitals, clinics and physicians would be treated as out of network for many UnitedHealthcare members starting Aug. 1. That risk stretches across a wide slice of UnitedHealthcare coverage, including employer-sponsored commercial plans, UnitedHealthcare’s Medicaid product in Florida and some individual family plans, according to the reporting.
Who would be affected
UnitedHealthcare’s provider materials identify the Preferred Care Network as a distinct Medicare Advantage product serving Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and the insurer says different plan lines can have separate contractual arrangements. UnitedHealthcare shows how Preferred Care Network offerings are structured in South Florida and why some Medicare Advantage enrollments are treated differently than commercial or Medicaid contracts.
What out-of-network status could mean for you
If UHealth does leave UnitedHealthcare’s network, patients who want to keep seeing the same UHealth specialists, including teams at marquee programs like Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, will face a choice. They could switch to in-network providers or pay higher charges to stay put. For families who depend on UHealth for complex, ongoing care, losing in-network status can translate into higher deductibles, surprise balances and a fresh round of paperwork for prior authorizations and new referrals.
Continuity of care and emergency protections
Federal rules offer at least a partial safety net for people in active treatment. Health plans must provide transitional or continuity-of-care protections so patients are not cut off mid-course, generally for up to 90 days from the date of notice. CMS describes the 90-day transitional window, and federal surprise-billing protections require that emergency care be billed at in-network cost-sharing even if the emergency room or attending clinicians turn out to be out of network. CMS explains those protections and where to file complaints if you think a rule was ignored.
What each side is saying
UHealth says UnitedHealthcare’s reimbursement has not kept pace with rising costs and has criticized what it describes as lengthy administrative denials that are later overturned. UnitedHealthcare responds that it is offering rate increases that would align UHealth with peer hospitals while trying to keep coverage affordable for members and employers. UnitedHealth Group’s first-quarter 2026 financial release shows earnings from operations of about $9.0 billion, a figure UHealth has pointed to in public remarks about the talks.
What you should do now
For the moment, the advice from both sides is simple: do not cancel appointments. Keep your scheduled care. Check your UnitedHealthcare card to confirm which plan you have, then call the number on the back to ask whether your specific UHealth doctors are currently listed as in network. If you are in the middle of treatment for cancer, pregnancy, dialysis or another serious condition, ask about continuity-of-care protections right away so the paperwork can start while there is still time to preserve in-network cost sharing.
Hang onto copies of your bills and explanations of benefits, and if a surprise balance bill lands in your mailbox, follow the complaint and appeal steps laid out in the federal guidance above.
Legal notes
Legally, this is a contract negotiation between a large insurer and an academic health system, but it overlaps with federal consumer protections. Continuity-of-care rules and the No Surprises Act limit balance billing for emergency services and require transitional coverage in many situations. If you believe you have been wrongly billed or denied continuity protections, CMS and your state insurance regulator are the official places to complain.
These high-stakes negotiations often go right up to the wire and still settle, but they can also drag on. For now, South Florida patients who see UHealth specialists should confirm their coverage, document their care needs and ask their insurer about continuity protections, especially if they are in active treatment.
