UHealth and Preferred Care Network: What South Florida Medicare Advantage Members Should Know About Sept. 1, 2026

Current as of July 13, 2026. This situation is developing — we will update this article if UHealth and UnitedHealthcare reach an agreement.

If you're enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare Preferred Care Network Medicare Advantage plan and you see doctors at UHealth (University of Miami Health System), here is the short version: UnitedHealthcare has announced that UHealth is expected to go out of network for Preferred Care Network Medicare Advantage plans on September 1, 2026. You still have full in-network access to UHealth through August 31, 2026, and nothing changes about your coverage today.

That's the core of it. No panic is needed — but a little preparation is smart. In this article, we'll explain what's happening in plain language, what "out of network" actually means, who may qualify to keep seeing their UHealth doctors, and the practical steps Preferred Care Network members in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties can take now.

At A&E Insurance Agency, we're an independent Medicare agency based in Miami. We don't work for UHealth or UnitedHealthcare — we work for the families who ask us to help them understand their options.

Who Is UHealth, and Why Does This Matter in South Florida?

UHealth is the University of Miami Health System. According to UHealth, it is South Florida's only academic health system — its doctors treat patients, teach future physicians, and lead research.

UHealth's statement highlights several programs patients rely on:

• Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, which UHealth notes is ranked #1 in the nation for eye care
• Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, South Florida's only NCI-designated cancer center
• Desai Sethi Urology Institute
• Nationally ranked neurology and neurosurgery programs

For many Medicare Advantage members in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, these aren't just names — they're where your specialists are. That's why this network question matters.

Key takeaway: If your cardiologist, oncologist, or eye doctor is part of UHealth and your plan is Preferred Care Network, the September 1 date is the one that affects you.

Two Dates in the News — July 31 and Sept. 1 — and What Each One Means

You may have seen different dates in the news, and it's genuinely confusing. Here's the difference:

If you're a Medicare Advantage member on a Preferred Care Network plan, September 1 is your date. The July 31 deadline applies to other types of UnitedHealthcare coverage — though it's part of the same overall negotiation, and both organizations say they will notify members if an agreement is reached.

One important word: "expected." UnitedHealthcare's own communication says it will notify members if an agreement extends network access beyond September 1. Negotiations like this sometimes resolve before — or even after — a deadline. Nothing is final until it happens.

What "Out of Network" Would Mean for Preferred Care Network Members

"In network" means a hospital or doctor has a contract with your plan, so you pay the plan's normal copays. "Out of network" means that contract has ended. In a Medicare Advantage plan, out-of-network care usually costs more — and depending on your plan's rules, some non-emergency services may not be covered at all.

Per UnitedHealthcare's announcement, beginning September 1, 2026, all UHealth hospitals, facilities, and physicians are expected to be out of network for Preferred Care Network members. Until August 31, everything remains in network as usual.

Two reassurances, straight from the sources:

• Emergency care is not affected. UHealth states that regardless of network status, you will always have access to emergency care at UHealth. In a true emergency, go to the nearest ER — network rules do not apply to emergencies.
• Nothing changes today. Both organizations say members should keep their scheduled appointments and continue booking new ones.

Not sure whether your plan is a Preferred Care Network plan, or whether your doctors are part of UHealth? That's exactly the kind of question we answer every day — contact A&E Insurance Agency or call (954) 281-5622 for a free, no-obligation review.

Continuity of Care: Who May Keep Their UHealth Doctors Longer

Continuity of care is a protection that lets certain patients keep seeing a doctor at in-network rates for a limited period after that doctor leaves the network — so treatment isn't interrupted at a critical moment.

According to UnitedHealthcare, Preferred Care Network members who are in active treatment for a serious or complex condition with a UHealth provider at the time of the network change may be eligible. UHealth's general statement also describes continuity of care as applying to patients who are pregnant or receiving ongoing treatment for a serious illness, and notes that requests are reviewed case by case — which is why both organizations encourage applying early rather than waiting.

How to start: call the customer service number on your health plan ID card (your UnitedHealthcare UCard) and ask about continuity of care for your UHealth providers. If approved, you may be able to continue your current course of treatment at in-network rates for a defined period.

Key takeaway: If you are in the middle of cancer treatment, dialysis, a surgery plan, or any serious ongoing care at UHealth, ask UnitedHealthcare about continuity of care now — don't wait until September.

What Each Side Is Saying

We're not here to referee — but you deserve to know both positions, briefly and fairly.

UHealth says the cost of delivering care has risen faster than UnitedHealthcare's reimbursement, and that it is asking for rates consistent with what other South Florida health systems are already paid. UHealth also raises concerns about administrative barriers — it states that when it appeals denied care on patients' behalf, 94% of those appeals are overturned, and it objects to a proposed policy it says could force patients receiving ongoing infusion treatments, such as chemotherapy, to change providers mid-care.

UnitedHealthcare says its priority is continued access to care — through continuity of care where appropriate or a smooth transition to other providers — and notes that Preferred Care Network members will continue to have access to a large network of providers throughout South Florida. It also says it will notify members if an agreement extends UHealth's network participation beyond September 1.

Both things can be true at once: this is a business negotiation, and both organizations say they want members to keep getting care. Most disputes like this are about payment terms, and many do get resolved.

Action Steps for Preferred Care Network Members in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach

Here's a calm, practical checklist:

1. Keep your appointments. Both UHealth and UnitedHealthcare say nothing changes right now. You have in-network access to UHealth through August 31, 2026.
2. Confirm which plan you have. Check your UnitedHealthcare UCard or plan documents for "Preferred Care Network." Note that Preferred Care Network is currently the only UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan that includes UHealth in its network — so this announcement matters even though other UnitedHealthcare plans are not named in it.
3. Make a list of your UHealth providers — every doctor, facility, and scheduled procedure. You'll want this list whether you pursue continuity of care, transition providers, or review plan options later this year.
4. If you're in active treatment, ask about continuity of care early. Call the number on your UCard.
5. Check the provider directory. UnitedHealthcare directs members to the directory at myuhcmedicare.com to confirm provider network status.
6. Watch your mail. UnitedHealthcare says it is notifying impacted members directly with next steps — and will notify members if an agreement is reached.
7. Talk to a licensed, independent agent before making any changes. Timing and eligibility rules matter, and switching plans is not always possible mid-year (see the FAQ below).

Which Medicare Advantage Plans Include UHealth?

Here is a fact many members don't realize: Preferred Care Network is currently the only UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan that includes UHealth in its network. That means switching to a different UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan would not restore in-network access to UHealth if this change takes effect.

According to the accepted-plans list published on UHealth's own website (as of July 2026), these Medicare Advantage plans currently include UHealth. One detail matters a lot: several plans include UHealth's specialists and hospitals but not University of Miami primary care doctors. If your primary care doctor is at UHealth, check that column closely.

Source: UHealth's published list of accepted Medicare Advantage plans, July 2026. Specific plan availability varies by county and plan year.

Two important cautions. First, network participation can change at any time — always confirm a provider's current status directly with the plan before making any decision. Second, naming a plan here is not an endorsement or a recommendation — a plan including UHealth does not automatically make it the right fit for you: benefits, prescription drug coverage, the rest of the provider network, and total costs all differ from plan to plan. And when you can actually switch depends on your enrollment window (see the FAQ below).

How a Local Independent Medicare Agent Can Help

As an independent agency, A&E Insurance Agency represents plans from 25+ carriers — we don't work for any single insurance company, and we are not affiliated with UHealth or UnitedHealthcare. What we can do for you, at no cost:

• Confirm whether your specific plan and doctors are affected
• Help you understand your continuity-of-care options and prepare questions for UnitedHealthcare
• Review which Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement options in your county include your preferred doctors and hospitals — including what your realistic enrollment windows are (here's how Advantage and Supplement plans compare in Florida)
• Keep watching this negotiation so you don't have to

Steve Germain has helped over 3,000 South Florida families navigate Medicare decisions since 2009 — including network disputes like this one. Our guidance costs you nothing, and the price of any plan is the same with or without an agent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is UHealth out of network for Preferred Care Network right now?

No. Preferred Care Network members have in-network access to UHealth through August 31, 2026. UnitedHealthcare has announced UHealth is expected to go out of network on September 1, 2026, unless an agreement is reached.

Which plans are affected by the September 1 change?

UnitedHealthcare's announcement applies to Preferred Care Network Medicare Advantage plans. Separately, UHealth's statement says UnitedHealthcare Commercial, Exchange, and Medicaid plans could be affected starting August 1, 2026 if no contract is reached by July 31.

Should I cancel or reschedule my UHealth appointments?

No. Both UHealth and UnitedHealthcare say nothing has changed yet and members should keep their appointments and continue scheduling new ones.

I'm in the middle of treatment at UHealth. Can I keep my doctors?

Possibly. Continuity of care may let members in active treatment for a serious or complex condition continue at in-network rates for a limited period. Requests are reviewed case by case — call the number on your UnitedHealthcare UCard and ask early.

Are there other Medicare Advantage plans that include UHealth?

Yes. According to UHealth's published accepted-plans list (July 2026), Medicare Advantage plans from Aetna, Humana, Solis Health Plans, Optimum HealthCare, Freedom Health, and Prominence Health currently include UHealth — but several include UHealth's specialists and hospitals without including University of Miami primary care doctors, and county availability varies. Network participation can change, so always confirm with the plan. Preferred Care Network is currently the only UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan that includes UHealth.

Can I switch my Medicare plan to keep UHealth in network?

Everyone with Medicare can make changes during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 – December 7, for coverage starting January 1. Some people qualify for a Special Enrollment Period sooner, but eligibility is case-by-case — a licensed agent can check your specific situation at no cost.

What if I have a medical emergency on or after September 1?

Emergency care is always available at UHealth regardless of network status. In an emergency, go to the nearest emergency room.

Talk to a Local Medicare Expert — Free

If you're a Preferred Care Network member in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach County and you're unsure what this means for you, don't sort through it alone. Call A&E Insurance Agency at (954) 281-5622 or schedule your free consultation. We'll review your plan, your doctors, and your options — in plain English, with no pressure and no cost.

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, or UnitedHealthcare. Plan availability, premiums, benefits, networks, and provider participation can change at any time; confirm details directly with your health plan and your providers. This article is for educational purposes only, is based on public communications current as of July 13, 2026, and does not replace advice from a licensed insurance professional, healthcare provider, or attorney.

About the author: Steve Germain is a licensed Medicare broker (NPN 19921707) and founder of A&E Insurance Agency in Miami, Florida. He is the author of Medicare Decoded: A Clear Guide for People Turning 65, has served 3,000+ clients since 2009, and is licensed in 35 states.