What did WakeMed and UnitedHealthcare agree to?
WakeMed and UnitedHealthcare announced on September 17, 2026 that they signed a new multi year contract for employer sponsored commercial plans. It takes effect October 15, 2026 and restores in network access to WakeMed hospitals, outpatient clinics and specialty physicians for UnitedHealthcare commercial members.
| UnitedHealthcare plan type | What WakeMed says |
|---|---|
| Employer sponsored commercial plans | In network at WakeMed hospitals, outpatient clinics and specialty physicians from October 15, 2026 |
| Medicare Advantage plans | The contract does not include WakeMed hospitals, specialists and home health. WakeMed Primary Care, ambulatory surgery centers and 210 PET Imaging are included |
| Medicaid managed care (UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of NC) | WakeMed has remained in network |
WakeMed's Medicare page was last updated in March 2026, before this contract, and it lists UnitedHealthcare both as participating (AARP Medicare Advantage by UnitedHealthcare) and as not participating (UnitedHealthcare HMO). The announcement is newer, so use it, and confirm with WakeMed and the plan before you rely on either page.
Which Medicare Advantage plans do WakeMed, UNC Health Rex and Duke list?
The three systems list different plans, and each page has its own date. A company missing from a list is not listed, so ask before you enroll.
| Plan company | WakeMed | UNC Health Rex | Duke Health 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna Medicare Advantage | Listed | Listed, except Aetna Medicare Prime HMO | Listed |
| Alignment Health | Listed | Listed | Listed |
| Blue Medicare (Blue Cross NC) | Listed | Listed, except Experience Health | Listed |
| UnitedHealthcare and AARP | Listed as both participating and not participating | Listed | Listed |
| Humana | Humana Medicare HMO is not participating | Only the NC State Employee Health Benefit Plan retiree plan, at no increase in cost | Humana Medicare PPO listed |
| Wellcare | Listed, North Carolina residents only | Out of network since January 1, 2026 | Listed at Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital only |
| HealthSpring or Health Care Service Corporation (formerly Cigna) | HealthSpring is not participating | Out of network since January 1, 2026 | Not on the list |
| Devoted Health | Not on the list | Not on the list | Listed at Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital and Kernodle Clinic only |
WakeMed says many employer sponsored group retiree Medicare Advantage PPO plans are exempt from out of network penalties, so those members pay the same cost at WakeMed even when WakeMed is out of network with the plan's administrator. Ask your plan which kind you have.
WakeMed calls this plan HealthSpring and UNC Health calls it Health Care Service Corporation, and both say it was formerly Cigna. Check the name on your card, and use each plan's 2027 directory because a company can keep its name and still change networks.
Which marketplace plans do the three systems list?
| Marketplace plan | WakeMed | UNC Health Rex | Duke Health 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambetter of North Carolina | Listed | Not on the list | Listed |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Not on its exchange list. Its open enrollment list includes Blue Cross NC plans excluding Blue Home, Blue Local, Blue Value and Blue HPN | Blue Home with UNC Health Alliance listed. Blue Home with Novant Health is out of network | Blue Advantage and Blue Care listed. Blue Value at Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital and Kernodle Clinic only |
| UnitedHealthcare individual plans | Not on the list | Listed | Not on the list |
| Oscar | Not on the list | Not on the list | Not on the list |
| Cigna Connect | Listed, but these plans end after 2026 | Not on the list | Not on the list |
Healthinsurance.org reports that five insurers offer marketplace plans in North Carolina for 2027: Ambetter, AmeriHealth Caritas, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare. Six offered plans in 2026, and Cigna is not offering marketplace coverage in 2027.
Open enrollment runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Pick a plan by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1. Duke Health lists the NC Navigator Consortium, free marketplace help, at 1-855-733-3711.
What can I do if my Medicare Advantage plan leaves my hospital out?
Compare plans during Medicare's annual enrollment period, October 15 to December 7, 2026. A change you make by December 7 starts January 1.
- Look up your doctors and your hospital in the 2027 directory of the exact plan, not just the company.
- Ask your doctor's office which Medicare Advantage plans it accepts for 2027.
- If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you can make one change from January 1 to March 31, 2027.
- SHIIP, North Carolina's free Medicare counseling program, is at 1-855-408-1212, according to Duke Health's page.
Original Medicare with a Medigap plan and a Part D drug plan is another route. After your first six months on Medicare Part B, a Medigap insurer can usually ask health questions and may charge more or turn you down, unless you have a guaranteed right to buy.
How many people in Wake County use the marketplace?
| Measure | Wake County | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| People who picked a plan | 82,129 | 761,457 |
| Received a premium tax credit | 82.4% | 87.1% |
| Average monthly premium before credits | $669 | $755 |
| Average monthly premium after credits | $188 | $181 |
| Paid $10 a month or less after credits | 23.5% | 29.5% |
| Picked a bronze plan | 63.2% | 63.9% |
| Picked a gold plan | 7.9% | 5.6% |
Wake County's average premium before credits was lower than the state's, but fewer of its enrollees received a tax credit. These are 2026 numbers. Your 2027 price depends on your income, your household and the plans sold where you live.
Census estimates put Raleigh at 506,306 residents, with 11.9% age 65 or older and 18.9% of residents age 5 and older speaking a language other than English at home. Among people under 65, 10.4% in Raleigh and 7.2% in Wake County have no health insurance.
How can a Raleigh agent help with hospital network questions?
An agent can look up WakeMed, UNC Health Rex, Duke Health and your doctors in each 2027 plan you are considering, and point out the plan type that makes the difference. Have your insurance card, your doctors' names and your prescriptions ready.
Health Insurance Solutions agents are licensed in 22 states and help by phone and online. Marketplace plans cost the same with or without an agent, so the comparison does not add to your premium.
Insurers and hospitals mentioned
Explore the organizations or brands discussed in this article. A mention does not mean every plan or location is covered.
- Hospital · North CarolinaDuke Health Lake Norman Hospital
- Insurer · North CarolinaAmbetter of North Carolina
- Insurer · North CarolinaBlue Cross and Blue Shield of NC
- Insurer · North CarolinaUnitedHealthcare
- Medicare Advantage · North CarolinaAetna Medicare
- Medicare Advantage · North CarolinaDevoted Health
- Medicare Advantage · North CarolinaHealthSpring
- Medicare Advantage · North CarolinaHumana
- Medicare Advantage · North CarolinaUnitedHealthcare
- Medicare Advantage · North CarolinaWellcare
- Small-group insurer · North CarolinaBlue Cross and Blue Shield of NC
- Small-group insurer · North CarolinaUnitedHealthcare Insurance Company
- Small-group insurer · North CarolinaUnitedHealthcare of North Carolina, Inc
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