United Healthcare patients could lose coverage at UNC Health as dispute continues

Thousands of UNC Health patients and their dependents could soon be forced to find a new doctor.

It comes amid a contract dispute with one of the largest health insurance companies in the U.S.

With a contract expiration date of April 1 and no deal in sight, United Healthcare patients will soon be left out-of-network.

For Rosie St. Germain, the timing couldn't be worse.

She is frustrated that she may have to find a new doctor and drive miles away when it's time to deliver.

Representatives from UNC Health and United Healthcare are meeting Tuesday. We're told the two sides remain "far apart" on a new and fair agreement.

But the clock is ticking and if an agreement isn't reached by April 1, 200,000 people insured through United Healthcare could be out of network here at UNC Health.

St. Germain is 16 weeks pregnant with her second child. She is among 200,000 UNC patients covered by United Healthcare who could lose coverage April 1 if the insurer and provider fail to reach a deal.

"It is very unexpected to force a patient to change providers in the middle of their care, especially something as physical and emotional as a pregnancy," St. Germain said.

The sticking point seems to be reimbursement and red tape with UNC Health saying its mission is being undermined by inflation and complicated rules United Healthcare sets out.

A spokesman for UNC Health told WRAL News, "we take very seriously the potential disruption this may cause our patients, and we are doing everything in our power to avoid that outcome."

United says that UNC Health terminated the contract last fall and demanded price hikes that would drive up health care costs by more than $570 million.

"We are committed to utilizing the time remaining on our contract to reach an agreement that is affordable for North Carolinians and employers," the spokesperson said.

United told St. Germain she can apply for a 90-day continuity of care, but her due date is Aug. 27.

"What they're really saying is that I have to deliver somewhere else and find a new OB," she said. "And it's not good enough, just 90 days."

St. Germain says she knows other women are in the same situation.

"I just feel powerless in this whole situation," St. Germain said. "There's nothing I can do to change what's happening."