WakeMed and UnitedHealthcare sign new three-year contract

WakeMed and UnitedHealthcare have signed a new three-year contract for employer-sponsored commercial plans. The agreement is set to take effect on October 15, 2026, and will restore in-network access to WakeMed hospitals, outpatient clinics, and specialty physicians for UnitedHealthcare commercial plan members.

While the contract includes these services, it does not extend to WakeMed’s hospitals, specialists, or home health services within UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans. However, WakeMed Primary Care, ambulatory surgery centers, and 210 PET Imaging facilities remain included in the agreement. WakeMed has maintained its in-network status with UnitedHealthcare’s Medicaid Managed Care plan.