If you use Providence, Swedish or PacMed for care and have a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan, set aside time to check next year’s coverage before choosing a plan for 2027.
The provider and insurer have announced a Jan. 1, 2027, network change affecting some UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members. UnitedHealthcare’s current notice lists Providence Regional Medical Center Everett among the affected hospitals, making this a practical issue for Snohomish and Island county residents who receive care there.
Check the exact plan on your card
UnitedHealthcare identifies individual Medicare Advantage plans, Group Retiree plans and Chronic Special Needs Plans, known as C-SNPs. Providence Swedish’s notice names Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and Group Retiree plans and says current access continues through Dec. 31.
The notices say this change does not affect UnitedHealthcare’s employer-sponsored commercial coverage or Medicare Supplement plans. Providence Swedish also says patients with Original Medicare will continue to be accepted.
Washington Dual Special Needs Plans, or D-SNPs, are listed separately as unaffected by this announced change. UnitedHealthcare also says it is negotiating that network relationship for 2027, so those members should confirm their own plan’s current arrangements.
Check benefits and billing arrangements
PEBB retirees: The Health Care Authority says the change affects UnitedHealthcare PEBB Balance and PEBB Complete. Its Oct. 29 guidance reports that Providence has said it will not bill UnitedHealthcare for out-of-network claims. Members have the option to pay for services themselves and submit claims for reimbursement. HCA says UnitedHealthcare reimburses out-of-network claims for Medicare-participating providers minus the member’s share. Ask about the payment required up front, claim paperwork and your final costs before booking care.
For other affected plans, ask about out-of-network benefits, referrals and prior authorization. If you are receiving ongoing treatment for a serious or complex condition, UnitedHealthcare says continuity-of-care arrangements may allow you to remain with your provider at in-network costs for a period of time. Call the number on your member card to ask about eligibility and how to apply. UnitedHealthcare says emergency hospital care is covered at the in-network benefit level regardless of the hospital’s network status.
Two enrollment calendars to keep straight
Medicare’s annual open enrollment ends Dec. 7 for changes effective Jan. 1, 2027. PEBB’s open enrollment ends Nov. 23; use HCA’s instructions for employer-sponsored retiree coverage.
Before making a change, check every regular doctor, hospital, medicine and pharmacy for the exact 2027 plan. If considering Original Medicare, review prescription coverage and Medigap purchase rules, too. Medicare says there are limits on when Medigap can be added.
For free, unbiased help, call Washington’s SHIBA program at 800-562-6900. Have your plan notice, provider list and medication list ready. Our Medicare plan-ending guide explains the separate situation in which an insurance plan itself is discontinued.
Provider, insurer and enrollment information checked Nov. 11, 2026.
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