(Wjar) – Some Advantage Medicare patients of Rhode Island could soon lose coverage in several local hospitals.
Unitedhealthcare sent letters to those registered at the Medicare Plan Advantage of the insurance company informing them that they will no longer receive coverage in the hospitals of Brown University Health in the Rhode Island if an agreement is not concluded by July 1.
According to a spokesperson from Unitedhealthcare, the potential loss of coverage has only an impact on Hasbro Children, Newport, Miriam and Rhode Island hospitals and not the doctors of Brown University Health.
Medicare plans generally cover people aged 65 and over and those who have disabled.
“In addition to an increase in the modest reimbursement rate to cover the costs of taking charge of their members, we have asked United to eliminate their administrative policies which deviate from traditional health insurance, such as unnecessary preliminary approval and use of use, which causes patient frustration and leads to an additional cost for our health care system,” said a Brown University Health. “Since the two parties held firmly in their posts, we have mutually decided to end our contract at Medicare Hospital Advantage from June 30, 2025.”
If an agreement is not concluded, members of Unitedhealthcare Medicare Advantage may find themselves paying more to obtain care in hospitals based in Rhode Island of Brown University.
“Our absolute priority is to use the remaining time on our hospital contract to conclude a long -term agreement which is affordable while maintaining our ability to continue to offer the competitive benefits on which our members of Medicare Advantage count. We hope that Brown University Health will share our commitment to reach an agreement that provides continuous access to their hospitals to people registered with Medicare Advantage plans, “said a spokesperson for Unitedhealthcare in a declaration.
The hospitals of Saint Anne and Morton of Massachusetts, both detained by Brown University Health, will not be affected.