Our Commitment to Families
Your child’s health and well-being are most important. We continue to work toward a long-term agreement with UnitedHealthcare that protects patient in-network access to the exceptional, specialized pediatric care families rely on. Throughout the negotiation, we’re committed to sharing information to help you understand:
- What’s happening
- How the negotiation outcome may impact your family
- How you can advocate for continued access to your trusted Phoenix Children’s doctors and nurses
Our current agreement with UnitedHealthcare ends on July 15, 2026. If no agreement is reached by then:
- Phoenix Children’s will be out-of-network
- You will pay more out of pocket
- You may need to apply for continuity of care
What can I do to make sure UnitedHealthcare agrees to a contract and Phoenix Children’s stays in my insurance network?
- Call UnitedHealthcare. Let them know how important it is for you to maintain in-network access to Phoenix Children’s. Call the number on the back of your insurance card.
- If you receive insurance through your employer, contact your Human Resources or leadership team. Let them know you deserve and expect a benefits plan that includes reliable in-network access to Phoenix Children’s.
Thank you for trusting us with your child’s care. We are honored to serve your family and will continue to provide updates as discussions progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Phoenix Children’s contract with UnitedHealthcare runs through July 15, 2026.
When a health system works with an insurance company, they become part of the insurance company’s “network.” Both parties sign a contract and agree to a set of rules that govern how the organizations will work together. The contract includes things like the amount the insurance company will pay the health system for different services and medical procedures.
After caring for a patient, a health system (i.e., hospital/doctor) bills each patient’s insurance company for services, and the insurance company decides whether to cover (pay for) those health care services. The insurance company then pays the hospital or doctor based on the agreed-upon rates in the contract. The amount an insurance company pays a hospital or doctor for patient care services is called a payment rate, or a reimbursement rate.
There are many other details and regulations in a contract between a health system and insurance company. Reimbursement rates, denials, pre-authorizations and related policies are the most negotiated terms. The rules and policies outlined in the contract can have a significant impact on when, how, and if patients with those insurance plans are able to receive timely care and coverage.
Phoenix Children’s is here to help ensure kids have the best chance at a bright future. In this negotiation, we are protecting the future of Phoenix Children’s and the kids who need us today – and tomorrow – by asking UnitedHealthcare to pay fair rates in the face of rising costs for patient care and remove barriers between kids and the care they need.
We are negotiating the terms of our current contract, which outlines how we work together and how UnitedHealthcare reimburses us.
Like almost every health system across the U.S., Phoenix Children’s is facing inflation and increasing costs for supplies and clinical staff.
Simply put, access to critical health services and the level of expertise you deserve and expect from us, 24/7, is not possible without fair payment from insurance companies like UnitedHealthcare.
You and your child’s treatment team know your child’s health needs better than anyone else. We are advocating to change the terms that enable denials for necessary care. Nothing should come between your child and getting the care they need, and the coverage you pay for.
Most UnitedHealthcare plans will be impacted by this negotiation. Families that have UnitedHealthcare Community Plan (AHCCCS) will not be impacted.
All providers, facilities and locations will be out-of-network starting July 16, 2026, if UnitedHealthcare removes Phoenix Children’s from their network. Emergency care is not impacted.
If UnitedHealthcare does not agree to a contract by July 15, 2026, Phoenix Children’s will be out-of-network, and most patients with UnitedHealthcare insurance will have to pay a higher out-of-pocket cost for services or choose to find new providers outside of Phoenix Children’s.
We encourage you to call UnitedHealthcare at the number on the back of your insurance card to find out how your out-of-pocket costs will change if UnitedHealthcare removes Phoenix Children’s from your network and learn what your plan’s out-of-network benefits are.
No. For now, nothing has changed. Families should keep their current appointments and continue scheduling new appointments with their Phoenix Children’s doctors and providers.
If an agreement is not reached, we encourage you to contact UnitedHealthcare before attending or scheduling any appointments after July 15, 2026, to learn how your out-of-pocket costs and coverage will change if Phoenix Children’s is removed from UnitedHealthcare’s network.
Our goal is to resolve the negotiation as quickly as possible, as we’ve done successfully with other insurance companies in recent months. We hope UnitedHealthcare will share our sense of urgency and collaborate for a timely resolution. A new contract must be established by July 15, 2026, or Phoenix Children’s will be removed from UnitedHealthcare’s network.
If Phoenix Children’s is removed from UnitedHealthcare’s network, most families will have to pay more out-of-pocket to continue seeing their Phoenix Children’s providers.
It’s important to contact UnitedHealthcare to understand what your out-of-network benefits are so that you can make decisions that are right for your family’s care.
Call UnitedHealthcare at the number on the back of your insurance card to express your concern and advocate to keep Phoenix Children’s in-network. Please visit our website for a full list of plans with which we participate.
Regardless of whether your insurance plan is in-network, you will always have access to emergency care. If your child is experiencing a medical emergency, please go to the closest emergency room.
The possibility of losing in-network coverage for your child’s care is always concerning, particularly for those with ongoing and serious care needs. UnitedHealthcare is legally required to allow some patients to continue seeing their current Phoenix Children’s doctors at in-network rates for a certain period, even if an agreement is not made by July 15, 2026.
UnitedHealthcare will likely require patients to apply for “Continuity of Care.” UnitedHealthcare will review applications and determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis. Call UnitedHealthcare at the number on the back of your insurance card to learn more.
- Call UnitedHealthcare. Let them know how important it is for you to maintain in-network access to your child’s Phoenix Children’s doctors. Call the number on the back of your insurance card.
- If you receive insurance through your employer, contact your Human Resources or leadership team. Let them know you deserve and expect a benefits plan that includes reliable in-network access to Phoenix Children’s.
We encourage you to call UnitedHealthcare at the number on the back of your insurance card. UnitedHealthcare can help you understand what the impact will be on you and your family based on your specific benefits plan if Phoenix Children’s is removed from your plan’s network. Our response team is also here to help: 602-933-5330.