Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – As annual health insurance renewals roll out, patients covered by UnitedHealthcare may see some changes in their coverage with NEA Baptist.

Beginning Nov. 15, the hospital, along with its clinics and urgent care offices, will be considered out of network for patients with employer-sponsored UnitedHealthcare or Medicare Advantage health plans, according to the hospital’s website.

Patients affected by this change will potentially face increased costs for all services, apart from emergency services, which will remain at in-network benefit levels. Those admitted to the hospital before Nov. 15 will have their stays covered at in-network levels through the end of that stay.

The website announcement said those covered by UnitedHealthcare plans should continue to seek care with NEA Baptist until the Nov. 15 deadline. Patients with elective procedures or appointments scheduled after Nov. 15 are encouraged to contact their provider’s office to request rescheduling.

Those wishing to remain in network with NEA Baptist can make changes to their health plans during open enrollment periods and should speak with their broker or employer to do so.

Open enrollment for Medicare is from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. For the Health Insurance Marketplace, open enrollment is from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15. Plans with in-network access to NEA Baptist can be found at its website here.

Ayoka Pond, vice president and chief marketing and communications officer for Baptist Memorial, provided the following statement to JRN regarding the change in coverage:

“NEA Baptist Memorial and UnitedHealthcare have been unable to negotiate a new agreement that keeps care accessible to our patients with UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored and Medicare Advantage health plans. (The VA, Medicaid, and Medicare Supplemental plans are not currently affected.) 

We encourage those eligible for Medicare to find a different health plan that guarantees in-network access to our hospital [and] physicians as we enter the 2026 open enrollment period beginning October 15.

For more information on our negotiations, community members can visit baptistonline.org/neahc.“

JRN also received the following statement from a UnitedHealthcare spokesperson:

“Our goal is to reach an agreement that is affordable for consumers and employers while maintaining continued network access to NEA Baptist. We delivered a new proposal on Oct. 9 that includes additional compromises, and meaningful rate increases that would continue to reimburse NEA Baptist at market-competitive rates.”

Pond indicated that NEA Baptist would continue to seek a resolution with UnitedHealthcare, and the hospital would provide updates online.

A similar situation happened in 2024 when Jonesboro’s other major medical center, St. Bernards, became out of network for those with UnitedHealthcare plans when talks for contract renewals between the two were terminated, K8 News reported.

Baptist Memorial operates hospitals, clinics, urgent cares, and other services in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi.