CTPF members enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plan should be aware of recent changes affecting access to UChicago Medicine (UCM). UCM has notified patients that, starting January 1, 2026, UCM is only contracted with certain Medicare Advantage plans and is no longer able to accept all Medicare Advantage patients for elective care. UCM has “grandfathered” certain existing CTPF patients. This grandfathered status was based on seeing a UCM physician office for non-emergency care from July 2023 – December 31, 2024. The grandfathered status allows those members to schedule appointments with physicians within the UCM system through the 2026 calendar year.

Proceed with Caution when Changing Plans: A recent communication from UCM included an offer for a free, one-on-one counseling session with a licensed, independent Medicare advisor (Chapter) to help you understand your options. This is an outside agency soliciting Medicare enrollments. Enrolling in any additional health plan outside of CTPF, including $0 premium plans, will result in loss of CTPF coverage and subsidy eligibility.  

Contact the UCM Call Center at 888-824-0200 to confirm coverage prior to appointments. Your doctor’s office may not be aware of specific contractual exceptions, so contacting UCM directly is the best way to confirm coverage.  

For more information, please refer to the CTPF Health Insurance Handbook, available at ctpf.org. If you have questions or are considering changing plans, CTPF encourages you to contact Member Services at 312-641-4464 or email memberservices@ctpf.org before making any decisions.