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RESOLVED: UnitedHealthcare vs Fairview Health

Network Contract Watch

Fairview Health Services and Eden Prairie-based UnitedHealthcare have reached a multi-year agreement that keeps the Minneapolis health system in the insurer’s network through 2028, avoiding a significant disruption in access to care for about 125,000 people who get insurance through their employers

Here are the impacts on patients who use Fairview providers.

  • UnitedHealthcare plans — commercial and Medicare Advantage — remain in network.
  • Patients can continue seeing Fairview providers in 2026.
  • Appointments already scheduled for 2026 will proceed as planned.
  • No insurance plan changes are needed to stay in network.
  • Emergency care remains available to all patients, regardless of insurance.

Neither side released details on how they settled their differences.

On Tuesday, Fairview posted an online message for patients announcing the contract. UnitedHealthcare thanked patients for their patience in a website posting.

Sources: KARE, KFGO, Minnesota Star-Tribune via MSN

BCBS of Minnesota vs Aspirus St Luke

Network Contract Watch

The current contract between Aspirus St. Luke’s Health and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is still set to expire on December 31, 2025.

Patients with Blue Cross plans who use Aspirus St. Luke’s providers are advised to closely follow the negotiations. They are also advised to prepare contingency plans by understanding their out-of-network benefits and researching alternative providers in the event of a brief lapse.

Aspirus has publicly stated that it is seeking contract terms that reflect current care costs and allow it to invest in maintaining its services and technology in the region. Blue Cross generally expresses the need to control rising healthcare costs for its members.

Source: North Shore Journal

UnitedHealthcare vs Fairview Health

Network Contract Watch

In the second public contract impasse in a month’s time, Fairview Health Services says it might leave UnitedHealthcare’s commercial network next year, which would affect about 125,000 patients who get health insurance through their employers. The current contract ends on December 31, 2025.

Fairview says it will start mailing letters early next week alerting patients to the possible insurance disruption.

The health system says UnitedHealthcare’s payment rates over the past five years have not kept pace with Fairview’s cost pressures from inflation, worker shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic. The insurer’s contract demands would force service cuts and limit access for patients, Fairview says, while adding layers of administrative complexity that delay or deny payment for medically necessary care.

Eden Prairie-based UnitedHealthcare says Fairview is demanding a 23% price hike that would boost overall costs, delivering a financial blow to employers and workers. Twelve employers would see their costs increase by $1 million or more each, UnitedHealthcare says, arguing that Fairview’s price hikes would make it significantly more expensive than other health systems in the Twin Cities.

Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune via InsuranceNewsNet