Ascension Wisconsin and UnitedHealthcare contract expires

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The contract between Ascension Wisconsin and UnitedHealthcare expired at midnight. This means thousands of people will now be forced to choose between finding a new doctor or a new insurance plans. 

The two sides are reportedly at odds over pay rate increases. 

Ascension Wisconsin released the following statement: 

"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.

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."

Dustin Hinton, UnitedHealthcare CEO, Wisconsin shared the following statement: 

“Ascension Wisconsin declined our latest proposal, which offered market-competitive rates, and chose to leave our network. We also proposed extending the contracts to allow our members continued network access to Ascension while we continue discussions. Ascension refused, choosing to disrupt network access for Wisconsin families while maintaining its demands for unsustainable price hikes that would increase health care costs for consumers and employers. While we remain committed to good-faith negotiation with Ascension, our primary focus at this time is providing our members uninterrupted access to the care they need through either continuity of care or supporting them as they transition to new care providers.”

Santana Stingley, a mother of six from Milwaukee’s north side, said she decided to drop UnitedHealthcare in order to make sure she could still keep her doctor at Ascension.

“It’s stressful and it makes me feel agitated,” Stingley said “[My doctor is] going to let you know the truth while providing the best care she can possibly provide. You don’t find doctors like that everywhere all the time.”

Stingley hopes the two companies come to an agreement for the sake of the patients they claim they support.

“They just need to get it together,” Stingley said. “I don’t think they put their customers and their patients first.”

At this point, it is unclear if or when Ascension and UnitedHealthcare will come to an agreement.