As caregivers, nothing is more important to UT Health East Texas than ensuring our community has access to the care they need from the caregivers they know and trust.
In recent months, UT Health East Texas has worked in good faith to achieve a new agreement with Ambetter that would ensure their members’ continued in-network access to our facilities and providers and fairly reimburses UT Health East Texas for the high-quality healthcare we provide.
If Ambetter is unable to meaningfully move toward a new agreement:
- Starting November 1, 2025, UT Health East Texas facilities will be out-of-network with Ambetter.
- Starting January 7, 2026, UT Health East Texas physicians and providers will also be out-of-network with Ambetter.
We understand this may be concerning and have shared additional information below.
What you need to know
Your ability to access emergency services from UT Health East Texas facilities at in-network rates will not be impacted. Additionally, patients who are pregnant or receiving treatment for an ongoing medical condition can contact Ambetter to complete a continuity of care request to confirm eligibility and approval for continued in-network coverage.
UT Health East Texas remains in-network with other Health Insurance Marketplace plans, which you may view at uthealtheasttexas.com/insurance-plans. We encourage you to explore these options to stay with your UT Health East Texas provider at in-network rates. Open enrollment for these plans is November 1, 2025 – January 15, 2026.
We have a team of insurance enrollment specialists available to assist patients in selecting the plan that best meets their needs. To connect with our team, please call 903-877-1463.
Like many health systems, we face rising costs due to inflation and supply expenses. To continue delivering high-quality care, we’ve sought an agreement that reflects these financial realities. Unless Ambetter is able to offer a new agreement that better supports high-quality care, UT Health East Texas will no longer be in-network with their plans.
We encourage you to call 1-877-687-1196 or use the number on the back of your insurance card to contact Ambetter directly and ask about:
- Continuity of care for certain conditions or ongoing treatment that you may be eligible for under the No Surprises Act.
- Out-of-network benefits
If you need to transition to another provider, we’ll support you every step of the way. To request your medical records, call 903-531-8161 or visit uthealtheasttexas.com/medical-records-request. For questions about your current plan, call the number on your insurance card or 1-877-687-1196.
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, and we hope to continue caring for you for years to come.
Frequently asked questions
Why did I receive a letter about this?
You may have a health insurance plan with Ambetter from Superior HealthPlan. We want to make you aware of a possible change to your coverage at UT Health East Texas.
What is changing?
Unless Ambetter is able to offer a new agreement that better supports high-quality care, UT Health East Texas will no longer be in-network with Ambetter.
This is expected to take effect on the following dates:
- November 1, 2025: UT Health East Texas facilities will be out-of-network
- January 7, 2026: UT Health East Texas physicians and providers will be out-of-network
Why is this happening?
We’ve made months-long efforts to stay in-network with Ambetter. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to reach an agreement that fairly reimburses UT Health East Texas for the care we provide—especially as healthcare costs continue to rise due to inflation and supply expenses.
What can I do if I want to keep seeing my UT Health East Texas provider?
You may consider switching to a different insurance plan that includes UT Health East Texas in-network. To see a list of plans we accept, visit uthealtheasttexas.com/insurance-plans. Marketplace open enrollment runs from November 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026.
What if I stay with Ambetter?
You can remain on your current plan, but you may face higher out-of-pocket costs for non-emergency care after the out-of-network dates listed above.
What if I am pregnant, have a chronic condition or am undergoing active treatment?
We encourage you to call 1-877-687-1196 or use the number on the back of your insurance card to contact Ambetter directly to ask about:
- Continuity of care for certain conditions or ongoing treatment that you may be eligible for under the No Surprises Act
- Out-of-network benefits
Will emergency care still be covered?
Yes. Emergency care is not affected. Ambetter is required by law to cover emergency services at in-network rates, even if we are no longer contracted.
What if I decide to transition to a new provider?
If you choose to change providers, we’ll work with you to make that transition as smooth as possible. To request your medical records: Call 903-531-8161 or visit uthealtheasttexas.com/medical-records-request