Please continue to check back on this page for additional updates as they become available.
Important Update: UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Coverage Changes Effective January 1, 2026
November 14, 2025
Dear Valued Patient:
We are writing today with important information regarding your insurance provider, UnitedHealthcare (operating in New York State collectively as UnitedHealthcare, Oxford Health Plans, and Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company). UnitedHealthcare has made the decision to exclude NewYork-Presbyterian hospital system from their Medicare Advantage network starting January 1, 2026. You may have already received a letter from UnitedHealthcare regarding this decision.
What This Means for You
Starting January 1, 2026, care provided at NewYork-Presbyterian (your Weill Cornell Medicine physician’s affiliated hospital), will no longer be covered as in-network for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage patients.
Weill Cornell Medicine remains in-network for UnitedHealthcare Medical Advantage plans at this time. However, beginning January 1, 2026, the care, specialties and services patients receive at NewYork-Presbyterian (e.g, diagnostic testing, laboratory testing, pre-admission testing, procedures, ambulatory surgery, inpatient admissions, etc.) may not be covered as in-network, disrupting the seamless care provided to you.
It is also uncertain if UnitedHealthcare will continue to honor Weill Cornell Medicine’s in-network status for Medical Advantage plans for the next year.
You may be able to switch to a new Medicare Advantage plan which will include NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine as in-network providers after January 1, 2026.
1. Individual Enrollees (HMO & POS Plans): Check Your Open Enrollment Options
Individual enrollees can switch to a new health plan during the annual Open Enrollment Period, which is currently taking place from October 15 through December 7 (for an effective date of January 1, 2026) or during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which is from January 1 through March 31 (for an effective date being the first day of the month following your election).
We encourage you to visit http://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare to learn more about the different health plans available to you. It is important to compare plans to make sure the one you select best meets your health care needs. If you need any assistance, please contact a Medicare representative by calling 1-800-633-4227.
2. Group Retirees: Contact Your Former Employer or Plan Sponsor
Employer sponsored plans may be offered to retired individuals who are eligible for Medicare. Additionally, it is possible that your former employer or plan sponsor may offer more than one health insurance option that you can enroll in and may offer different times for when you can change your health plan.
It is important to keep in mind that benefits for Medicare Advantage group retiree plans depend on whether the plan is a PPO or an HMO. The specific terms are set by your former employer or plan sponsor. Please contact your former employer or plan sponsor to learn more about the options available to you.
Participating Plans
For Medicare patients, NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine are currently in-network with the following health plans and companies:
Mainstream Plan Providers:
- Aetna
- Anthem BCBS
- CIGNA
- Emblem Health (HIP/GHI)
- Fidelis
- Healthfirst
- Wellcare
Not all the above-mentioned health insurance plans and companies are accepted at all NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine locations and affiliated practices. Please check with your provider’s office to determine which plans they participate in.
Schedule Appointments Before January 1, 2026
If you have an appointment already scheduled after December 31, 2025 at one of the impacted facilities listed below, you may want to contact your Care Team to see if an earlier appointment is available.
What Happens Next
We understand that this situation is frustrating and stressful. At this time, there is no change in your health insurance coverage from UnitedHealthcare. You still have in-network access at the facilities listed below with the Weill Cornell Medicine providers currently accepting UnitedHealthcare through December 31, 2025.
We will continue to provide updates as they become available. To find the latest information, please visit nyp.org/unitedhealthcare. We thank you for your understanding and for trusting us with your care.
Sincerely,
Your Care Team at Weill Cornell Medicine
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The following NewYork-Presbyterian Hospitals and organizations will no longer be in-network for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members starting January 1, 2026:
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Groups (Brooklyn, Hudson Valley, Queens, Westchester)
- NewYork-Presbyterian Queens
- NewYork-Presbyterian The One
- NewYork-Presbyterian/The Spiral
- NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health
- Gracie Square Hospital
- Lawrence Home Care of Westchester
- The Rogosin Institute
- The Silvercrest Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation
