UnitedHealthcare announced WakeMed facilities and providers now out of network

UnitedHealthcare officials announced WakeMed is leaving the network.

On Saturday, UnitedHealthcare officials told WRAL News that WakeMed’s facilities and specialty providers will be out of network for members enrolled in commercial and Medicare Advantage plans, effective Nov. 15, 2025.

“WakeMed has chosen to leave our network after refusing to move off its demands for unreasonable rate increases,” said Laurie Mandell, UnitedHealthcare CEO, Carolinas Health Plan. “While we remain committed to continued discussions with WakeMed, our focus at this time is providing our members uninterrupted access to the care they need through either continuity of care or supporting them as they transition to new care providers.”

According to UnitedHealthcare officials, this change will impact employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans, as well as Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP).

The negotiation will not impact primary care physicians employed by WakeMed, who will remain in network, officials said.

WakeMed officials announced on Tuesday that they would no longer cover Medicare Advantage plans unless a deal was reached.

In a statement on Tuesday, WakeMed officials said they were working with the “intent of staying in-network." Still, they could not accept the terms proposed by UnitedHealthcare because they “put WakeMed at risk for being able to take care of our community and deliver on our mission of caring for all.”

“With the rising supply, equipment, and labor costs, UHC’s proposal with no reimbursement increase to keep pace with inflation for the next four years is not only unacceptable but impossible,” the statement read in part.

Officials with WakeMed told WRAL News they were hopeful an agreement would be reached before the contract expired, but said on Nov. 7, UnitedHealthcare officials advised they “decided to remove Medicare Advantage from the negotiations.”

WakeMed and UnitedHealthcare officials have agreed to continue negotiations around commercial contracts on Monday.

People enrolled in Medicaid plans will continue to have network access to WakeMed’s hospitals and providers, according to UnitedHealthcare officials.

For members who are in active or ongoing treatment for a serious or complex condition with a WakeMed provider, UnitedHealthcare officials said they may still be eligible to continue their care for a period of time at in-network costs. Any member who believes they are eligible should contact UnitedHealthcare.