Duke Health is dedicated to improving the lives of all who come to us for hope, health and healing. Patients and families choose Duke Health because of our unmatched quality and expertise. They trust Duke Health to deliver the best possible outcomes.
We believe every patient deserves access to expert, complex care from the physicians and care teams they know and trust. For several months, we have been working to reach a new agreement with UnitedHealthcare that protects our patients’ in-network access to the Duke Health services they rely on.
If UnitedHealthcare is unwilling to work with Duke Health, patients could lose in-network access to care as early as October 31, 2024.
Duke Health's Goal:
- Protect patient access to our physicians, nurses and other caregivers.
- Ensure our ability to continue providing quality services now and in the future.
UnitedHealthcare’s Position:
- Unwilling to work with Duke towards a responsible new agreement despite billions of dollars in profits.
- Proposing reducing investments in patient care.
Impact
If UnitedHealthcare removes Duke Health hospitals and providers from its network, UnitedHealthcare -insured patients will no longer have in-network access to Duke Health doctors, hospitals, clinics and services they rely on. For the patients and communities we serve, that will mean:
- Limited access and choice for patients in the triangle area (Durham, Wake, Orange and Granville Counties). From July 2023 – June 2024, Duke provided care to nearly 928,000 individuals.
- Increased travel time and distance to receive nationally ranked, specialized care like Cancer, Heart, GI, Geriatrics, Gynecology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Neonatal ICUs, Pediatric Care, Stroke Network and more.
- Eliminating in-network access to specialties and services only available at Duke Health.
The following plans will not be impacted by the current contract negotiation with United:
- Duke Plus/UMR
- United/AARP Medicare Supplemental Plans
- Prescription plans through Optum Rx
- United Healthcare Dental
- United Vision Plans (Spectera)
Duke Health is committed to working with UnitedHealthcare in good faith, and it is our hope that UnitedHealthcare will agree to a new, responsible contract that puts patients first.
Actions You Can Take
With UnitedHealthcare and Your Employer
- Call UnitedHealthcare at the number on the back of your insurance card and urge UnitedHealthcare to work with Duke Health to reach a new agreement that protects your access to care.
- Talk to your employer's Human Resources or Benefits teams and urge them to contact UnitedHealthcare.
With Duke Health
- Call Duke Health at 919-620-4555 or 800-782-6945 to learn more about your health insurance options.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.