July 1, 2026
Health First and UnitedHealthcare are both announcing that they signed a new contract on June 30th.
Patients should experience no disruptions in coverage, and should keep all scheduled appointments.
Sources: Health First, UnitedHealthcare
June 1, 2026
Health First’s current contract with UnitedHealthcare expires on June 30, 2026.
If an agreement is not reached on or before that date, Health First physicians and services may no longer be part of UnitedHealthcare’s network. This negotiation includes Health First providers and the following hospitals, which would go out-of-network effective July 1, 2026:
- Cape Canaveral Hospital
- Holmes Regional Medical Center
- Palm Bay Hospital
- Viera Hospital
In addition, Health First Surgery Center at Babcock would be out-of-network effective August 1, 2026.
This negotiation only affects commercial employer-sponsored and individual/family plan members. Health First’s hospitals and providers are already out of network for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans. Health First’s providers (but not hospitals) are out-of-network for UnitedHealthcare Community Plans (Medicaid) members.
Both UnitedHealthcare and Health First have established microsites for affected patients.
Sources: Health First, UnitedHealthcare