Tens of thousands of women across Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. are facing potential disruption to their healthcare as the contract between Capital Women’s Care (CWC) and UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is slated to terminate on August 1, 2025.
Despite ongoing negotiations, a mutually agreeable resolution has yet to be reached, raising significant concerns for patients relying on CWC’s extensive network of OB/GYN providers. Capital Women’s Care, one of the largest and most successful private OB/GYN practices in the Mid-Atlantic region, has confirmed that its agreement with UnitedHealthcare will lapse in just over a week.
This means that, without a last-minute deal, CWC’s more than 250 physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals will become out-of-network for UnitedHealthcare members, potentially leading to higher costs or the need to find new providers for essential women’s health services.
Patients have already begun receiving notifications from Capital Women’s Care, urging them to contact UnitedHealthcare and voice their disappointment. The communications emphasize that UHC’s decision to allow the agreement to lapse would remove a substantial number of women’s healthcare providers from its network, negatively impacting access to care for a vast patient base.
While specific details of the negotiations remain confidential, reports suggest that Capital Women’s Care is seeking a new agreement that ensures fair compensation for its providers, enabling them to continue delivering the quality care their patients deserve. UnitedHealthcare, on the other hand, typically aims to keep healthcare costs affordable for its members and employer clients. This type of contract dispute is not uncommon in the healthcare industry, with both providers and insurers looking to secure terms that align with their financial models.
For patients, the looming deadline creates significant anxiety, particularly for those with ongoing pregnancies, chronic gynecological conditions, or scheduled procedures. While Capital Women’s Care has stated its commitment to providing continuity of care and minimizing disruption, the out-of-network status could lead to substantially higher out-of-pocket expenses for services that were previously covered.
Patients with upcoming appointments are advised not to cancel them at this time, as negotiations are still ongoing. Capital Women’s Care continues to participate with most other major insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem, CareFirst, and Cigna, offering alternatives for those considering switching insurers.