Deadline Passes Without New Deal Between United Healthcare, WakeMed

Raleigh, N.C. — A deadline passed Wednesday evening for WakeMed and the insurer UnitedHealthcare, which ends their relationship after a dispute over how much the carrier pays the hospital for services its members receive.

UnitedHealthcare is one of the Triangle's largest health-insurance companies, and it would like to pay prices more like the lower ones Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina pays. WakeMed says prices are based on how much business an insurer brings into the hospital and that it cannot afford to give UnitedHealthcare a better deal.

Without a contract, UnitedHealthcare patients who use WakeMed will be going out of their approved network for services and insurance will cover less of the expenses.

Officials at WakeMed said they do have a remedy for those who still want to go to WakeMed. The hospital has printed up pamphlets explaining how UnitedHealthcare members may be able to get treatment without paying any more than they would have.

The hospital has a plan to cover out-of-pocket costs on a case-by-case basis for those who choose to go out of network.

About 200,000 card-holders in the Triangle will lose coverage at WakeMed.

"We will make up the difference financially for that individual patient," Deborah G. Friberg, WakeMed's executive vice president and chief operating officer, said.

WakeMed has set up a hotline for United Healthcare members: 919-350-CARE (2273).

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Latest Comments

Blessed, where are you facts to back up that healthcare providers are getting paid more each year, day, etc for the same procedure? False. If new and more costly technology is used, then yes, the cost would increase. Otherwise, no, that is price gouging and is illegal.

jeneric43
March 1, 2007 4:25 p.m.

Don't be too easily fooled into thinking your emergency visit will be covered by UHC if you go to WakeMed. UHC will not cover your visit unless it is a "true emergency". So, if you go to WakeMed's ER, you better hope they admit you and perform a procedure of some kind or you'll have a battle on your hands getting UHC to cover the expenses. I speak from experience.

purplepat777
March 1, 2007 2:56 p.m.

Trooper, I agree. It is actually time that insurance is provided in a way that is non-profit and national coverage may be the only way that can happen. The problem is, if you go to national coverage, then your doctor will be paid even less for his services than he is paid now (which believe me, ain't much). Everyone talks about rising healthcare cost, but the only cost that is rising is what we the insured are having to pay the insurance companies, the amounts they pay to the medical providers (doctors, hospitals, etc) have steadly gone down each year. So if the insurance company is paying out less and we are paying in more, then where is the rest of our money going? The deep pockets of the senior management of the insurance companies.

Blessed
March 1, 2007 1:44 p.m.

sounds to me like we need to go to nationalized health care, that way we could put the insurance companys out of business and everyone would get the same health coverage and perscriptions. the United States is supporting at least half the world, I think its time to provide healthcare for our own people.

Trooper
March 1, 2007 1:31 p.m.

I meant 6 ultrasounds... not 60! Sorry.

wakeresident
March 1, 2007 1:06 p.m.