NEA Baptist Memorial is negotiating with UnitedHealthcare for a new agreement so patients can continue to affordably access our hospitals and physicians. To date, UnitedHealthcare has not matched our urgency to find a resolution that keeps patients’ care intact.
Effective November 15, 2025, NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital, our facilities, and physicians will be considered out of network for patients with a UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored or Medicare Advantage health plan. Affected patients will face increased costs for all NEA Baptist Memorial’s services with the exception of emergency care. Even after November 15, patients with UnitedHealthcare insurance can still pay in-network benefit level for care at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital’s emergency department.
Why Are We Negotiating?
UnitedHealthcare consistently denies care and withholds benefits from its members. We cannot allow them to continue to get away with this shameful behavior.
Please know that we are doing everything we can to keep NEA Baptist Memorial accessible to you. At the same time, it’s important that we insist that UnitedHealthcare acts in the best interest of our community.
We remain hopeful that UnitedHealthcare will step up and be the partners in care Arkansans deserves.
Have Questions?
This website will be updated regularly so that those affected can stay informed, [ONCE CALL CENTER IS ESTABLISHED: or call [HOTLINE] to speak directly with our patient information hotline.]
A: It’s important that we address UnitedHealthcare’s harmful practices, particularly denying care and withholding benefits from their members, who are our patients.
- Call UnitedHealthcare: Using the number on the back of your insurance card, let UnitedHealthcare know how vital it is to have in-network access to your trusted NEA Baptist Memorial providers.
- Contact your broker: If you are eligible for Medicare, you can switch to a new health plan that guarantees in-network access to NEA Baptist Memorial in 2026. Visit [Medicare Compare URL] to learn more. Please note that you can only switch to a new plan during Medicare’s open enrollment period, which lasts from October 15-December 7, 2025.
- Talk to your employer: If you have insurance through work, let your HR or benefits manager know you want a plan that includes access to NEA Baptist Memorial. Employers often review benefit options in advance of open enrollment, so it’s important they know this matters to you.
- Stay informed. Visit microsite or call our patient information hotline at [(###) ###-####. if you have questions about our negotiations or want to know the status of our relationship with UnitedHealthcare.
If you have health insurance through your work, let your HR or benefits manager know that you want in-network access NEA Baptist Memorial.
If you have a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another plan that includes NEA Baptist Memorial in its network during Medicare’s open enrollment period, which lasts from October 15-December 7, 2025.
Take Action
Your voice matters.
Consider taking the following actions so UnitedHealthcare understands that you would like to maintain in- network access to your trusted NEA Baptist Memorial hospitals and doctors.
- Call UnitedHealthcare: Using the number on the back of your insurance card, let UnitedHealthcare know how vital it is to have in-network access to your trusted NEA Baptist Memorial Health Care team.
- Contact your broker: If you are eligible for Medicare, you can switch to a new health plan that guarantees in network access to NEA Baptist Memorial in 2026. Please note, you may only do this during Medicare’s open enrollment period from October 15 to December 7. Plans that guarantee in-network access to NEA Baptist Memorial are found at [URL].
- Talk to your employer: If you have insurance through work, let your HR or benefits manager know you want a plan that includes access to NEA Baptist Memorial. Employers often review benefit options in advance of open enrollment, so it’s important they know this matters to you.
