Ascension Wisconsin no longer in-network with UnitedHealthcare

MILWAUKEE - Ascension Wisconsin is no longer in-network with UnitedHealthcare, effective Oct. 1, 2025. This, after UnitedHealthcare’s contract with Ascension Wisconsin expired at midnight without a deal. 

What we know:

Ascension Wisconsin released a statement Wednesday morning saying, "despite our best efforts, we were unable to come to terms that reflect the rising cost of delivering care in today’s environment."

This change will impact patients receiving care at Ascension Wisconsin hospitals, outpatient facilities and physician practices, as well as associated practices of Ascension Medical Group.

Both Ascension Wisconsin and UnitedHealthcare said they are open to continuing negotiations despite the contract lapse.

Ascension Wisconsin statement

What they're saying:

"Ascension Wisconsin has been engaged in negotiations with UnitedHealthcare for several months in an effort to reach a fair and sustainable agreement that supports continued access to quality care for the UnitedHealthcare Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid members we serve. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to come to terms that reflect the rising cost of delivering care in today’s environment."

"As a result, effective October 1, 2025, Ascension Wisconsin is no longer in-network with UnitedHealthcare. This impacts patients receiving care at our hospitals, outpatient facilities and physician practices, as well as associated practices of Ascension Medical Group."

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"Over the past several years, our caregivers have worked through extraordinary challenges to continue delivering compassionate, quality care, while health insurers like UnitedHealthcare have posted record profits. The reimbursement rates UnitedHealthcare proposed do not adequately account for the significant financial pressures facing healthcare providers, including unprecedented inflation, and rising costs for equipment and medications. These pressures are straining the healthcare system nationwide, and we must ensure we have the resources necessary to maintain and advance the high standards of care our patients expect and deserve."

"We recognize this change may be disruptive and concerning for our patients. We are committed to helping those affected understand their options and continue accessing the care they need. Patients may still be able to receive care from Ascension Wisconsin providers on an out-of-network basis or may have additional choices during open enrollment."

'While our current agreement with UnitedHealthcare has not been renewed, our commitment to delivering compassionate, quality care to the communities we serve remains unchanged. We continue to believe that fair, sustainable insurance contracts are critical to the long-term health of our patients and the healthcare system—and we remain open to resuming discussions with UnitedHealthcare should they be willing to engage in a way that supports that goal."

UnitedHealthcare statement

What they're saying:

"Despite repeated efforts to reach a compromise, Ascension Wisconsin (Ascension) has chosen to leave our network. Ascension refused our latest proposal, which would have continued to reimburse the health system at market-competitive rates, and declined another request to extend our contract to allow additional time to negotiate."

"As a result, Ascension’s providers and hospitals in Wisconsin are out of network for people enrolled in the following plans, effective Oct. 1, 2025:

• Employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans
• Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP)
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plans in Wisconsin (Medicaid)

"Optum Behavioral Health is not impacted by this negotiation and will continue to remain in-network with Ascension Wisconsin."

"Our goal throughout this negotiation has always been to reach an agreement that is affordable for consumers and employers while maintaining continued, uninterrupted network access to Ascension. We made numerous compromises, including proposing rate increases that would have continued to reimburse Ascension at market-competitive rates."

"Unfortunately, Ascension refused to move off its demands for unsustainable price hikes that would have increased health care costs for Wisconsin families and businesses."

"We proposed multiple times to extend our current contract—even as recently as Sept. 30. This would have provided our members continued network access to Ascension while we continued our discussions. Ascension refused and chose to disrupt access for its patients, presumably as leverage to help obtain the price hikes they are seeking."

"While we remain open to discussions with Ascension, our primary focus at this time is providing the members we serve uninterrupted access to the care they need through either continuity of care or supporting them as they transition to new care providers. We know that network changes can be difficult, but our members can rest assured that they will continue to have access to high-quality, affordable care from our broad network of hospitals and physicians."

Concerned patients

Local perspective:

UW-Madison associate professor Dan Sacks agrees that Ascension patients are in a bind with little options short-term.

"It’s really frustrating and hard, the situation," Sacks said. "If you go out of network for scheduled non-emergency care, you can be responsible for all the price your insurer doesn’t want to cover."

Sacks said the loss of coverage is especially challenging for patients with long-standing relationships with Ascension providers. He suggested that people insured through employers consider waiting until open enrollment begins Nov. 1 to shop for new plans or in-network providers.

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"If you have something scheduled at Ascension – not like a check-up but something more urgent and pressing than that – it is probably time to make some phone calls and figure out what it is going to cost you to stay at Ascension and if it is possible to find an in-network provider," he said. "That’s challenging for many patients who have probably long-standing relationships with Ascension, with their doctors, with other providers. There may not be other great options."

He said finding a doctor may be daunting, as many take a year to get in.

Scott Adams, a professor of economics at UW–Milwaukee, predicted the dispute would eventually be resolved because both sides have too much at stake.

"This ramps up the intensity now," Adams said. "The end result will likely be higher premiums for people in Wisconsin."

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