Deadline approaches for UnitedHealthcare and SSM Health insurance agreement

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.

Today is the deadline for UnitedHealthcare and SSM Health to reach an insurance agreement.

SSM Health warns that without an agreement, patients’ access to care could be disrupted and costs may increase.

If the two sides do not come to a deal, UnitedHealthcare patients could lose in-network access to SSM Health hospitals, clinics, and doctors starting January 1, 2026.

This includes SSM Health Medical Group, SLU-Care Physician Group, and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.

UnitedHealthcare said in an online release that it is negotiating to keep care affordable and uninterrupted, citing rising hospital costs as a factor driving higher premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.

SSM Health said in its online release that instead of working with them on an agreement, "UnitedHealthcare is prioritizing its own profits over what its members truly deserve high-quality, accessible care."

SMM Health recently added that UnitedHealthcare “hasn’t demonstrated a willingness to collaborate on a new, fair agreement, and the expiration date of our current contract is quickly approaching on December 31, 2025.”