Cigna Healthcare and University of California Health

What You Need to Know

June 5, 2026

Cigna Healthcare and University of California (UC) Health are currently in network contract negotiations, a normal part of the management of health care intended to balance fair provider reimbursement with affordability for patients, employers, and families. We remain engaged in negotiations with the goal of reaching an agreement that keeps UC Health in network. If we are unable to reach an agreement, UC Health will no longer be part of the Cigna Healthcare network as of July 1, 2026.

We want UC Health to remain in our network; however, the significant reimbursement increases they’re seeking would drive up health care costs for you and your family. Ensuring access to quality care while protecting those we serve from rising health care costs is a top priority, and we will continue working to reach a fair agreement.

In the meantime, we’re here to help you understand what this network change may mean for you, navigate your coverage, and learn more about potential Continuity of Care options. If you have questions or need support, contact us 24/7/365.

Why is this happening?

Although UC Health issued a termination notice to Cigna Healthcare, we continue to engage in active, ongoing dialogue and good faith negotiations about how much you and your employer will ultimately pay for your care. Already one of the most expensive providers in the area, UC Health is seeking rate increases well above market norms – approaching a 35% increase over four years.

 UC Health is also seeking to participate in programs designed to guide patients with complex or ongoing needs to high-quality, lower-cost care. However, they don’t meet the program requirements necessary to ensure these programs remain cost-effective. As a result, patients may face significantly higher out-of-pocket costs, undermining affordability and increasing costs for both you and your employer.

It’s important to consider who ultimately pays for UC Health’s services. Most local employers self-fund their health insurance plans, meaning that any increases in reimbursement are ultimately borne by both employers, through higher plan costs, and by patients, through higher payroll contributions or out‑of‑pocket costs when they seek care. When the cost of care goes up, you and your employer ultimately pay more.

We recognize the disruption this change would cause, and we are continuing to negotiate in good faith with the goal of reaching an agreement that keeps UC Health in-network at fair and reasonable rates and helps limit cost increases for you and your employer.

Who will be affected?

If UC Health chooses to leave our network, all Cigna Healthcare members with Commercial Open Access Plus (OAP), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), and LocalPlus (LP) plans will be affected. Any services by these providers would be covered at an out-of-network benefit level (if your plan has out-of-network benefits). Receiving care from out-of-network facilities and providers costs more, which is why we encourage you to seek care from in-network providers.

What providers will be out-of-network if no agreement is reached?

These providers will be impacted:

Southern California
Hospitals
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital UCLA West Valley Medical Center UCSD Medical Center	Jacobs Medical Center UC San Diego Health-East Campus University of California Irvine Medical Center UCI Health-Fountain Valley	UCI Health-Lakewood UCI Health-Los Alamitos UCI Health-Placentia Linda
Facilities
BURL UCLA Health - Digestive Diseases Santa Clarita UCLA Health - Digestive Diseases West Hills UCLA Health - Pain Management Santa Clarita UCLA Health - Pain Management Thousand Oaks UCLA Health - Digestive Diseases South Bay UCLA Health - Pain Management South Bay	UCLA Health-Digestive Diseases North Hollywood West Hills Surgical Center UCLA Health Digestive Diseases Santa Clarita Tourney UCLA Dept of Medicine Digestive Diseases Thousand Oaks Medical Procedure Unit University Ambulatory Surgery Center UCSD Surgical Center of San Diego UCSD Center for Surgery of Encinitas UCSD Ambulatory Surgery Center, LLC dba Outpatient Surgery Center of La Jolla	UCSD Medical Center Dialysis UCSD Home Infusion Pharmacy Manchester Surgical Pavilion UC Irvine Family Health Center UCI Immunology Lab Infusion Center Pacific Endoscopy and Surgery Center, LLC
Medical Groups
UCLA Medical Group UCLA Entertainment Industry Medical Group UCI University Physicians & Surgeons	PHS Premier Health Services IPA UCSD Medical Group (includes One Medical Group clinics in San Diego)

Northern California
Hospitals	Facilities	Medical Groups
UC Davis Medical Center UCSF Medical Center UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, formerly Children’s Hospital of Oakland	UC Davis Medical Center, Home Infusion Therapy dba UC Davis Health at Home	UC Davis Medical Group UCSF Medical Group (includes One Medical Group) UC Berkeley School of Optometry UCSF Medical Group CIP Bay Children's Physicians

Where can I access in-network care if UC Health leaves our network? 

These in-network options are available near the impacted hospitals.

Southern California UC Health Impacted Providers Alternative Providers City Distance Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA 4.8 miles Southern California Hospital at Culver City Culver City, CA 6.1 miles Marina Del Rey Hospital Marina Del Rey, CA 9.1 miles Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center Marina Del Rey Hospital Marina Del Rey, CA 4.8 miles Southern California Hospital at Culver City Culver City, CA 6.7 miles Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA 9.6 miles UCLA West Valley Hospital Northridge Hospital Medical Center Northridge, CA 7.2 miles Valley Presbyterian Hospital Van Nuys, CA 10.2 miles Adventist Health Simi Valley Simi Valley, CA 14.3 miles UCSD Medical Center Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego San Diego, CA 0.5 miles Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA 4.8 miles Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego San Diego, CA 5.7 miles Sharp Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA 12.2 miles Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla La Jolla, CA 14.2 miles Jacobs Medical Center Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla La Jolla, CA 1 mile Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA 9.6 miles Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego San Diego, CA 9.8 miles Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego San Diego, CA 13.8 miles UC San Diego Health East Campus Sharp Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA 3.9 miles Rady Children's Hospital San Diego San Diego, CA 7.8 miles Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego San Diego, CA 8.3 miles Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA 8.4 miles Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla La Jolla, CA 19.3 miles University of California Irvine Medical Center Orange County Global Medical Center Santa Ana, CA 6 miles Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center Fountain Valley, CA 9.6 miles UCI Health - Fountain Valley Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center Fountain Valley, CA 2.3 miles Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian Newport Beach, CA 9.5 miles Orange County Global Medical Center Santa Ana, CA 10.8 miles Anaheim Regional Medical Center Anaheim, CA 14.1 miles UCI Health - Lakewood Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Long Beach, CA 5.4 miles Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach Long Beach, CA 5.4 miles PIH Health Hospital Downey Downey, CA 6.2 miles St. Mary Medical Center Long Beach, CA 7.7 miles PIH Health Hospital Whittier Whittier, CA 13.4 miles UCI Health - Los Alamitos Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Long Beach, CA 9.5 miles Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach Long Beach, CA 9.5 miles St. Mary Medical Center Long Beach, CA 10.9 miles Anaheim Regional Medical Center Anaheim, CA 12 miles PIH Health Hospital Downey Downey, CA 12.2 miles Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center Fountain Valley, CA 13.2 miles UCI Health - Placentia Linda Chapman Global Medical Center Orange, CA 7.7 miles Anaheim Regional Medical Center Anaheim, CA 9 miles Anaheim Global Medical Center Anaheim, CA 9.3 miles Whittier Hospital Medical Center Whittier, CA 13.1 miles

Northern California UC Health Impacted Providers Alternative Providers City Distance From Terminating Hospital UCSF Medical Center UCSF Health St Mary's Hospital San Francisco, CA 1.4 miles California Pacific Medical Center - Davies Campus San Francisco, CA 2 miles California Pacific Medical Center - Van Ness Campus San Francisco, CA 3.6 miles California Pacific Medical Center - Mission Bernal Campus San Francisco, CA 3.9 miles UCSF Health St. Francis Hospital San Francisco, CA 4.2 miles Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Summit Campus Oakland, CA 14.5 miles Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus Berkeley, CA 15.8 miles Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Herrick Campus Berkeley, CA 16.2 miles Marin General Hospital Greenbrae, CA 16.6 miles UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Summit Campus Oakland, CA 1.5 miles Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus Berkeley, CA 1.6 miles Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Herrick Campus Berkeley, CA 2 miles Highland Hospital Oakland, CA 3.8 miles California Pacific Medical Center - Van Ness Campus San Francisco, CA 12.4 miles California Pacific Medical Center - Davies Campus San Francisco, CA 12.5 miles California Pacific Medical Center - Mission Bernal Campus San Francisco, CA 13.1 miles San Leandro Hospital San Leandro, CA 13.4 miles Saint Rose Hospital Hayward, CA 19.8 miles Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA 37.4 miles UC Davis Medical Center Sutter Medical Center Sacramento Sacramento, CA 1.9 miles Sutter Davis Hospital Davis, CA 21.3 miles Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA 21.3 miles

What if I am admitted to a UC Health facility before July 1, 2026, but my stay continues past this date?

As long as we have approved your stay, the services you receive will be covered at the in-network benefit level, even if you stay after UC Health has left the network.

What if my specialist provider admits patients only to a UC Health facility?

Some specialist physicians who only admit to UC Health facilities will need to obtain admitting privileges at another in-network hospital, or they will be removed from the Cigna Healthcare network. If your physician leaves the network, you will receive a separate letter, and you’ll need to choose a new specialist who is in the Cigna Healthcare network to continue receiving in-network benefits for services.

What about emergency care?

Your emergency care services will be covered at the in-network level under your plan’s emergency room coverage. If you’re admitted to the hospital from the emergency room, your stay will be covered at the in-network level until you’re stable and ready to be transferred to an in-network hospital.

What is the Continuity of Care program, and how do I determine if I qualify?

The Continuity of Care program allows you to continue to get in-network coverage for certain medical and behavioral treatment for a specific period of time — even after UC Health providers leave your plan’s Cigna Healthcare network. To find out more about Continuity of Care and submitting a Continuity of Care form:

• Contact us toll-free at the number on your Cigna Healthcare ID card or 1.800.244.6224.
  • Let our Customer Service Advocate know that you’re in the middle of treatment and want to see if you qualify for Continuity of Care. We’ll work with you to see if you’re eligible and help you complete the forms.
• Visit Cigna.com
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Find a Form.
  • Select Medical Forms and then choose Transition of Care/Continuity of Care Form.
  • Print and fill out the Transition of Care/Continuity of Care Request Form
  • Mail it to the address noted on the form.

Once you submit the request form, Cigna Healthcare will send you a letter with our decision. If you have any questions, we’re happy to help. Please contact us at the number on your Cigna Healthcare ID card. Customer Service Advocates are available 24/7

How long will Continuity of Care services be covered at the in-network rate?

If your care was authorized before July 1, 2026, you may be able to receive in-network coverage for care from your provider for a specified time. If you’re pregnant and undergoing a course of treatment for pregnancy through the postpartum period before July 1, 2026, you may be able to continue to receive care from your provider at the in-network rate for the remainder of your pregnancy, as well as during your postpartum care.

If your health care professional is also no longer in your plan’s Cigna Healthcare network as a result of this termination, he or she can submit a request to Cigna Healthcare to continue coverage of your care at the in-network rate.