Contract talks threaten 70K UnitedHealthcare members at Premier

UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest group health insurers in the local area, has hit an impasse in new contract negotiations with Dayton-based hospital system, Premier Health — potentially jeopardizing the health plans of up to 70,000 local residents, the Minnesota-based health insurance giant said Thursday.

The health insurer’s current contract to cover care provided at Premier hospitals, physicians’ offices and urgent care facilities is set to expire in the next 30 to 45 days for all lines of business, including employer-sponsored health plans, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid coverage, the company said.

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UnitedHealthcare’s contract with Premier hospitals is set to expire April 29 for employer-sponsored and Medicare members, and on May 13 for Medicaid members. Meanwhile, the company’s contract with Premier physician groups will expire May 13 for employer-sponsored, Medicare and Medicaid members, if new terms can’t be reached, the company said.

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While negotiations will continue, UnitedHealthcare said it is preparing to notify members — including workers at several large employers in the area — that it might not be able to reach a new deal.

“We’re not trying to create a fight in the market, but…employers need to weigh in on this as well,” said Caitlin Clipp, UnitedHealthcare’s executive director in southwest Ohio.

Premier officials said in a statement that they were confident they can get past any sticking point in the negotiations: “The notices that UnitedHealthcare is sending to its members are a legal requirement. We anticipate resolving the negotiations with UnitedHealthcare by the contract deadline of April 29.”

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