UHealth and Bascom Palmer Patients on Preferred Care Network: Your Options Before January 1, 2027

Originally published July 24, 2026; updated August 4, 2026 to reflect the resolved agreement.

We have real good news since we first answered these questions: UHealth is no longer expected to leave the Preferred Care Network network on September 1. UnitedHealthcare extended access through December 31, 2026, and set a new, final out-of-network date of January 1, 2027 — which lines up cleanly with the start of new 2027 Medicare plans chosen during the Annual Enrollment Period. The anxious four-month gap we originally wrote about no longer exists.

Since we published our first guide to this story, our phones have been busy with the same questions: Can I switch plans now? What if I'm in the middle of treatment? Should I give up my Bascom Palmer doctor? This article walks through the real options with the corrected timeline.

If You're in Active Treatment Right Now, Start Here

If you are being treated for cancer at Sylvester, recovering from surgery, on dialysis, or managing any serious ongoing condition with UHealth doctors, your first move is not switching plans — it's continuity of care.

Continuity of care lets patients in active treatment for a serious or complex condition keep their in-network benefits with UHealth for a limited period after UHealth leaves the network, if UnitedHealthcare approves the request. You can apply any time from now through 30 days after January 1, 2027 — a wide window, though applying earlier gives you more certainty.

1. Call the number on the back of your UnitedHealthcare UCard
2. Say you want to apply for continuity of care for your UHealth providers
3. Have your treatment details ready: condition, providers, upcoming appointments and procedures
4. Write down the name of who you spoke with and ask how you'll be notified of the decision

Key takeaway: If you're in active treatment, there's no need to panic — you have months, not days. But applying for continuity of care sooner still gives you more certainty than waiting.

Can I Switch Medicare Advantage Plans Right Now? The Honest Answer

You likely don't need to. Because UHealth stays in-network for Preferred Care Network through Dec. 31, 2026, and the out-of-network date (Jan. 1, 2027) now lines up with new 2027 plan effective dates, the Annual Enrollment Period — October 15 to December 7, 2026 — is your normal, no-rush opportunity to choose 2027 coverage that includes UHealth, with zero coverage gap.

That said, some people still qualify for a mid-year change sooner through a Special Enrollment Period:

• If you have Medicare and full Medicaid (or certain levels of Extra Help), you may have additional enrollment flexibility during the year, depending on your Medicaid level. This is case-by-case — we can check yours in a few minutes.
• If you have a qualifying chronic condition — such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease — you may be able to enroll in a Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (C-SNP) designed for that condition, if you're not already in one for the same condition. Aetna and other carriers offer C-SNP plans in South Florida that include UHealth in their networks.

Key takeaway: For most Preferred Care Network members, the right move is simply to plan ahead for AEP (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026) — not to rush a mid-year switch.

Which Plans Include UHealth — and the Baptist Health Detail Worth Knowing

Our first article has the full table of Medicare Advantage plans that include UHealth, built from UHealth's own published list — including which plans cover UHealth specialists but not UM primary care doctors. A few notes from the inquiries we're getting:

• Aetna Medicare Advantage is drawing the most interest, and for a practical reason: based on our current plan research, many Aetna Medicare Advantage plans in South Florida include both UHealth and Baptist Health — two systems a lot of our clients want to keep. Aetna also offers a C-SNP option locally. As always, confirm your specific doctors and plan before enrolling.
• In Broward and Palm Beach, Freedom Health and Optimum HealthCare are worth checking against your doctor list; Prominence Health is an option in Palm Beach.
• Don't want to switch Medicare plans at all? UnitedHealthcare itself points Preferred Care Network members to other in-network South Florida systems, including Baptist Health Medical Group Physicians, HCA Florida Mercy Hospital, Memorial Healthcare System, and Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida.
• Whatever you consider: check every doctor you see against the plan's directory, not just the hospital. That's the step people skip.

Naming a plan here is not an endorsement or a recommendation — network participation changes, and the right plan depends on your doctors, medications, and budget. Always confirm directly with the plan.

The Bascom Palmer Question: Switch Plans or Switch Eye Doctors?

Several callers have asked a version of: "Should I just find another ophthalmologist?" With the extra runway through Dec. 31, 2026, there's no need to rush that decision. Here's a fair way to think it through:

• How specialized is your eye care? Routine exams and glasses are widely available. Complex retina, glaucoma, or cornea care is a different conversation — Bascom Palmer is, per UHealth, ranked #1 in the nation for eye care, and specialist relationships built over years have real value.
• What's your timeline? Since the new out-of-network date lines up with AEP, a plan change during Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026 may solve this without changing doctors at all.
• What does the rest of your care look like? Don't redesign your whole coverage around one doctor — but don't dismiss what that doctor means to you either.

Is This the Moment to Consider a Medicare Supplement Instead?

Here's a bigger-picture question this situation has many of our clients asking: should I be on Medicare Advantage at all?

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans work alongside Original Medicare — and Original Medicare has no provider networks. Any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare, including UHealth, can treat you. UnitedHealthcare itself confirms Medigap plans "are not impacted by our negotiation for the Preferred Care Network" — network disputes like this one simply aren't a Medigap problem.

The honest tradeoffs:

• Higher monthly premiums than most Medicare Advantage plans, in exchange for predictable costs and no networks
• A separate Part D prescription drug plan is needed — if you switch during AEP, we recommend timing both your Medigap plan and drug plan to take effect January 1 together
• Acceptance may involve medical underwriting. Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap outside your protected enrollment windows usually means the insurer can review your health history in Florida.

Our guides on Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement in Florida and Plan G vs. Plan N cover the details. With AEP starting October 15, now is a great time to assess this calmly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is UHealth still leaving Preferred Care Network on September 1?

No. UnitedHealthcare extended access through December 31, 2026. UHealth will go out of network starting January 1, 2027 instead.

Do I need to switch plans right now?

No. Your Preferred Care Network coverage continues uninterrupted through Dec. 31, 2026. The Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026) is your normal opportunity to choose 2027 coverage, with no gap.

I'm receiving cancer treatment at Sylvester. Will I have to stop seeing my doctors?

Not on Dec. 31, 2026 — your coverage continues. If UHealth does go out of network Jan. 1, 2027 for your plan, continuity of care may let you continue at in-network rates for a limited period; you can apply any time through 30 days after Jan. 1, 2027.

Does a Medicare Supplement plan really avoid this problem?

Yes. UnitedHealthcare confirms Medigap plans are not affected by this negotiation. Original Medicare has no networks, so any provider that accepts Medicare, including UHealth, can treat you.

Which Medicare Advantage plans still include UHealth?

Per UHealth's published list: Aetna, Humana, Solis Health Plans, Optimum HealthCare, Freedom Health, and Prominence Health include UHealth in at least some South Florida counties. Preferred Care Network remains the only UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan with UHealth access. Always confirm your specific doctors with the plan.

What if I don't want to switch Medicare plans at all?

UnitedHealthcare directs Preferred Care Network members to other in-network South Florida systems, including Baptist Health Medical Group Physicians, HCA Florida Mercy Hospital, Memorial Healthcare System, and Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida.

Talk Through Your Options — Free, No Pressure

Every situation in this article — continuity of care, AEP planning, plan comparisons, the Medigap question — comes down to your specific doctors, medications, and circumstances. That's a 20-minute conversation, not a guessing game. Call A&E Insurance Agency at (954) 281-5622 or schedule your free consultation. We're local, independent, and we've guided South Florida families through decisions exactly like this one.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 16 organizations which offer 73 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

A&E Insurance Agency is an independent insurance agency. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of UHealth, the University of Miami, UnitedHealthcare, or any health system or carrier named above. Plan availability, premiums, benefits, networks, and provider participation can change at any time; confirm details directly with your health plan and providers. Eligibility for any enrollment period is determined case by case. This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace advice from a licensed insurance professional, healthcare provider, or attorney.