Thousands of United Healthcare members living in The Villages, Florida, may be forced to switch their health insurance provider due to a dispute between CenterWell Primary Care and United Healthcare. The Villages Health System, which serves over 55,000 people, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and its assets were transferred to CenterWell Primary Care in September. However, an agreement has yet to be reached between CenterWell and United Healthcare, which is the primary insurance provider for The Villages Health System.
As a result, members who use United Healthcare may have to change their insurance provider, which could cause disruption to their care. The majority of The Villages Health System’s patients use United Healthcare, and many have already selected their plans for 2026. One policyholder, Phyllis McElveen, expressed her concern and frustration, stating that she was not notified about the potential change until recently and that it may not be possible for some people to make a change.
CenterWell’s parent company, Humana, released a statement saying that discussions with United Healthcare are ongoing, but if no agreement is reached, The Villages Health will be unable to accept United Healthcare plans starting January 1, 2026. United Healthcare plans will still be accepted until December 31, 2025. Representatives advise that updates to next year’s health plans must be made before December 7 or during open enrollment, which will take place from January to March next year.
The Villages Health System had initially assured members that they would still receive the same care and that there would be no lapse in coverage during the transition. However, the latest development has caused uncertainty and concern among members. Spectrum News reached out to United Healthcare for a statement, but has yet to receive a response. The situation is still unfolding, and it remains to be seen whether an agreement will be reached between CenterWell and United Healthcare, or if thousands of members will be forced to switch their health insurance provider.