New agreement guarantees UW Medicine stays in-network for Aetna patients

Seattle

UW Medicine and Aetna have finalized contracts to keep UW Medical Facilities as in-network options for Aetna Insurance patients.

The agreement was announced on July 3rd, covering services that will be in effect after the previous contract expired on June 1, 2025.

This new arrangement will influence services at UW Medical’s Primary and Emergency Care, along with Physician Services provided at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and several UW Medical locations, including the UW Medical Center.

Dr. Tim Dellit, CEO of UW Medicine, remarked, “We’re looking forward to seeing you in the future. It’s crucial for patients to have access to trusted doctors and care teams within our network. To keep our hospitals functioning and uphold our role as the state’s main safety net health care system, we require fair reimbursement from commercial payers.”

Aetna shared that they are glad to have a multi-year agreement with UW Medicine, reinstating their participation in the Health Planning Network. The effective date for this new contract is June 1st, and services rendered to Aetna members will be covered at their network benefits level starting then.

Previously, on June 2, UW Medicine had announced a lack of agreement prior to June 1. On May 29, there were concerns about reaching a financially viable agreement.

At that time, UW Medicine expressed, “Aetna’s contract offers don’t seem to provide fair treatment for both patients and many UW Medicine employees. Fair compensation is needed to ensure our hospital runs smoothly and delivers on its safety net responsibilities.”

For those with insurance questions, patients can reach out to UW Medicine at HealthinsContracts@uw.edu.

Aetna plans to notify members who received initial termination notices and encourages anyone with questions to call the number on the back of their member ID cards.

Here’s a list of facilities included in the agreement with Aetna: