On the east side, Mercy is your hospital. If you have UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage, 2027 could change that.
Mercy Health has told patients that its contract with UnitedHealthcare ends December 31, 2026. If no new agreement is reached, Mercy Health hospitals, doctors, and care sites in Ohio and Kentucky will be out of network for UHC Medicare Advantage members starting January 1, 2027.
For Milford, Batavia, Amelia, and Anderson Township, that's not a small thing. The two closest full-service hospitals are Mercy Health Anderson on State Road and Mercy Health Clermont in Batavia. And UnitedHealthcare's AARP Medicare Advantage plans are some of the most popular in Clermont County.
MedMyWay is an independent Medicare agency run by Jeff and Suzanne Janosick. We don't work for UHC, Mercy, or any one carrier. We'll check your doctors against every 2027 plan we represent and show you the options that keep your care where it is now. It costs you nothing.
Nothing changes before December 31. Keep your appointments and keep seeing your Mercy doctors.
But your 2027 plan choice is due December 7, before anyone knows whether Mercy and UHC will reach a deal. That leaves three ways to play it:
1. Switch now to a plan that includes Mercy.
Mercy lists Aetna and Anthem Medicare Advantage among the plans it accepts at Mercy Clermont. Making the switch during Annual Enrollment means you don’t have to wait on the negotiations.
2. Stay with UHC and wait.
If a deal happens, you’re fine. If it doesn’t, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31) lets you make one switch, which takes effect the first of the next month. You could be out of network at Mercy for a month or more while that happens.
3. Move to Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement.
A Supplement works at any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare: Mercy, TriHealth, The Christ Hospital, UC Health, and anywhere else in the country. You won’t be caught in network fights like this again. In Ohio, insurers can usually ask health questions outside your first enrollment window, so ask us whether you’d qualify.
In active treatment? Mercy says patients with certain chronic or complex conditions may qualify for Continuity of Care protections if the contract ends. Call UHC at the number on your card to ask, then talk to us before you switch.
Emergencies are always covered. Never delay emergency care because of a network question.
Even apart from Mercy and UHC, 2027 is a big change year in Clermont County:
Largest plans ending in Clermont County:
Most of these are plans for people with both Medicare and Medicaid. If that’s you, you’ll keep Medicaid, but you need a new Medicare plan to keep your extra benefits and drug coverage. You may also get more chances to change plans than other people with Medicare.
If your plan is ending and you do nothing, you’ll be on Original Medicare on January 1, with no drug coverage unless you get Extra Help.
About 1,700 Clermont County members of four Humana giveback PPOs, including two Humana USAA Honor Giveback with Rx plans, are being moved automatically into HumanaChoice Giveback H5216-481 or Humana Essentials Plus Giveback (PPO).
Both have a $9,850 in-network out-of-pocket maximum, the highest Medicare allows, and a $700 drug deductible.
UHC members are being moved too:
Since these are UHC plans, members also face the Mercy contract question above.
Many Milford families have a Mercy primary care doctor and a specialist at Christ or UC. Before you pick a plan, we check every doctor on your list, not just the hospital.
Milford, Miami Township, Batavia, Amelia, Union Township and Eastgate, Anderson Township, Mount Washington, Loveland, Goshen, New Richmond, Owensville, Williamsburg, and Bethel. From the Little Miami River to East Fork State Park, we meet by phone, by video, or in person by appointment.
Nearby pages: Cincinnati, OH · Mason, OH · Fort Thomas, KY · Alexandria, KY
Mercy Health says its contract with UnitedHealthcare ends December 31, 2026. If no agreement is reached, Mercy hospitals and doctors in Ohio and Kentucky will be out of network for UHC members, including Medicare Advantage, starting January 1, 2027. Both sides say they're still negotiating. Check mercy.com/UHCupdates for the latest.
Yes. Mercy says the change would apply to its physicians, hospitals, and care sites in Ohio and Kentucky.
Mercy lists Aetna and Anthem Medicare Advantage plans, among others, as accepted at Mercy Health Clermont. Networks are set plan by plan, so we confirm your specific doctors before you enroll.
Yes. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) allows one plan change, which starts the first of the following month. You could be out of network at Mercy in the meantime.
You'll keep Medicare and Medicaid, but you need a new plan to keep your drug coverage and extra benefits. We'll compare 2027 dual plans that include your doctors.
No. Our help is free. Insurance companies pay us, and your premium is the same either way.
Bring your plan letter, your doctor list, and your prescriptions. In 30 minutes we'll show you exactly which 2027 plans keep your care in network.
