Bon Secours, UnitedHealthcare Contract to End in 2026
Employers should prepare for potential network changes impacting employee healthcare access starting January 1.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Healthcare
Live Poll
Do you trust your health insurance provider to ensure you have continuous access to your healthcare providers?
Bon Secours St. Francis Health System is currently negotiating a contract extension with UnitedHealthcare before their agreement expires on December 31, 2026. If no new deal is reached, local facilities will shift to out-of-network status for insurance plan members on January 1, 2027.
Why it matters
The expiration of this network agreement impacts employee benefits planning and payroll considerations for local business owners providing UnitedHealthcare coverage to staff. Businesses must monitor these talks to determine if current health plan networks will remain accessible for their Greenville-based employees next year.
The current insurance contract between Bon Secours and UnitedHealthcare is scheduled to terminate on December 31, 2026. The entities are working to finalize terms for an extension, leaving the status of network access for patients after January 1, 2027, unresolved.
The players
Bon Secours St. Francis Health System
A major nonprofit healthcare provider operating multiple facilities in South Carolina.
UnitedHealthcare
A national health insurance provider that facilitates medical coverage for individuals and employer-sponsored groups.
The details
If the contract ends without a new agreement, Bon Secours facilities will become out-of-network providers for UnitedHealthcare members in Greenville. While emergency services must remain available regardless of network status, other elective or routine care could face coverage disruptions. Employers should advise their teams to verify insurance status through their benefit representatives or by contacting the number on their insurance card to assess potential changes to care costs.
Timeline
December 31, 2026: The current contract between Bon Secours and UnitedHealthcare terminates.
January 1, 2027: Facilities become out of network if a new agreement is not reached.
Market Landscape
This negotiation occurs within the framework of network adequacy and patient protection regulations established by the No Surprises Act. It reflects the ongoing tension in healthcare contracting where systems and insurers periodically revisit reimbursement terms that govern regional patient access.
Local employers should prepare for potential network changes by evaluating their health benefits offerings ahead of the January 1, 2027, deadline. Consult with your benefits broker to understand how a potential shift to out-of-network status for this system would affect employee out-of-pocket costs and care access.
The takeaway
Businesses should encourage employees to verify their current network status by calling the member services number on their insurance card. Maintain a calendar alert for December 31, 2026, to reassess whether a formal notice of network changes has been issued to plan members.
Further reading
For broader trends in local provider-payer relations, review recent updates in Healthcare.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Foxcarolina.
Live Poll
Do you trust your health insurance provider to ensure you have continuous access to your healthcare providers?
