Carolinas Healthcare System and UnitedHealthcare have come to terms on a new contract. The agreement means that most UnitedHealthcare customers in the Charlotte metro area will continue to receive “in-network” coverage for services provided at CHS facilities.
The previous contract between CHS and UnitedHealthcare expired at the end of February. Technically, that meant that about 80,000 UnitedHealthcare customers would no longer be considered ‘in-network’ at CHS hospitals and doctor’s offices. However, CHS said at the time that it would extend in-network coverage while negotiations with UnitedHealthcare continued.
The two companies now say they’ve agreed on a new, multi-year contract, retroactive to March first. Under the new deal, people enrolled in UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored and Medicare plans will continue to receive in-network benefits with CHS providers in the metro Charlotte area. The contract does not cover people who have UnitedHealthcare’s Compass individual plans through the Affordable Care exchange. The company wouldn’t say how many people are in that category.