Negotiations Between Centerwell and United Healthcare Stalled Before Enrollment Deadline
Centerwell Senior Primary Care, having acquired most of Villages Health’s assets, is currently in discussions with United Healthcare (UHC). However, there’s a standstill for Medicare Advantage (MA) policyholders as the annual enrollment period approaches its end on December 7. This information comes from Jim Bordener, who heads the Villages Chapter of the National Retirement Legislative Network (NRLN).
Bordener mentioned that he found out about the negotiation details through a letter from Villages Health, dated November 7, which was sent to patients regarding the MA plan. The letter conveyed that for UHC members, their health plans would remain valid until December 31, 2025. Ongoing discussions are aimed at extending this agreement beyond 2026; if no resolution is achieved, UHC plans would no longer be accepted starting January 1, 2026.
“Bill Caderite, the NRLN President, has reached out to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to investigate the matter,” Bordener remarked.
If an agreement isn’t reached and policyholders choose to terminate their MA plans for 2025, they may receive letters about Medicare Guaranteed Issue Rights (GIRs) and Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs). Bordener explained that GIRs prevent insurance companies from denying coverage or imposing higher costs due to pre-existing conditions, while SEPs allow for the purchase of Medigap or MA plans at competitive rates.
Though insurance providers can terminate plans, federal regulations mandate that GIR and SEP notifications be sent to those affected by these cancellations.
Bordener noted that the NRLN has been active regarding the end of various health plans. In 2025 alone, around 1.1 million MA plan beneficiaries lost their plans either in their home state or after relocating. Additionally, about 400,000 Medicare Medigap plans were also terminated. By 2026, more than a million MA beneficiaries are expected to lose their current coverage, with UHC discontinuing services for over 600,000 members, Humana for 450,000, and CVS-Aetna ending 90 plans across 34 states.
In March 2025, NRLN representatives met with officials from CMS in Baltimore, presenting a position paper emphasizing the urgent need for GIR/SEP. On September 22, CMS issued a directive to insurance companies and unions to inform impacted members at least 90 days prior to the conclusion of their current contracts. CMS also included a template letter for notifying enrollees, based on NRLN’s suggestions.
Bordener assured that the NRLN would persist in addressing health insurance matters to safeguard the interests of seniors in The Villages.
The NRLN is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to improving the future for retirees, representing over 2 million retirees from various sectors across all 50 states. Local residents interested in receiving updates from the NRLN can sign up online.
