Essentia Health has announced that starting January 1, 2025, it will no longer accept Medicare Advantage plans provided by UnitedHealthcare (UHC) and Humana due to the excessive delays and denials of care caused by these insurers. Essentia Health shared that UHC and Humana’s prior authorization requirements result in more frequent denials and delays of care, creating unnecessary hardships for their patients.
Essentia insists this decision was not taken lightly but was necessary to ensure patients receive timely and appropriate care. Essentia patients who have Medicare Advantage plans with UHC or Humana are encouraged to explore alternative Medicare plans during the upcoming open enrollment period, which runs from October 15 to December 7.
Several alternative Medicare plans are available for those who want to continue receiving care at Essentia Health, including Medica, UCare, EssentiaCare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and North Dakota, HealthPartners, and traditional Medicare plans with supplemental options.
Patients affected by the change can contact Essentia Health for assistance by calling (800) 985-4675 or visiting their website for more information.
For UHC patients: https://essentiahealth.org/UnitedHealthcare
For Humana patients: https://essentiahealth.org/Humana)