By Paul Barrett, CMIP | The Modern Medicare Agency | Melville, NY 18+ years Medicare-exclusive experience | Licensed in 34 states | 40+ carriers Last updated: July 2026
If Huntington Hospital is your hospital — if that’s where your cardiologist practices, where your surgeon has privileges, where you’d go if something serious happened — then 2026 brought news you may not have heard yet.
Two insurance carriers have terminated their network relationships with Northwell Health, which operates Huntington Hospital. One of those terminations already happened in January. The other just took effect July 1.
If you’re on either of those plans and you walk into Huntington Hospital for anything other than an emergency, you are paying out-of-network rates right now. Possibly thousands of dollars more than you expected.
I serve Commack, Huntington, Melville, Kings Park, Northport, and the surrounding communities from my office just minutes away. I know this hospital. I know which plans cover it and which don’t. And I know what it means for a western Suffolk County resident to lose access to the hospital they’ve trusted for years.
This article tells you exactly where things stand — which plans are out, which are strong, and what you can do if you’re affected.
Why Huntington Hospital Matters So Much for Western Suffolk County Residents
Let’s start with why this conversation matters so much for western Suffolk County residents specifically.
Huntington Hospital at 270 Park Avenue in Huntington is not just a community hospital. It is one of only two 5-star CMS-rated hospitals in all of Suffolk County for 2026 — earning the highest quality recognition from the national governing body for healthcare. (Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson is the other.) CMS 5-star ratings evaluate patient outcomes, safety, experience, and care quality across hundreds of metrics. Only about 12% of hospitals nationwide earn five stars. Huntington Hospital has earned it five times since 2021.
It is also the only hospital on Long Island to achieve Magnet nursing designation five consecutive times — one of only 33 hospitals in the entire country with this distinction, according to Huntington Hospital’s own published information. The Magnet designation reflects exceptional nursing care quality, which directly affects your experience and outcomes as a patient.
Beyond the ratings, the clinical capabilities matter:
- Verified Level III Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons — one of only a handful on Long Island
- Comprehensive cardiac care — including interventional cardiology, cardiac surgery, and electrophysiology
- Cancer care through the Don Monti Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Advanced orthopedics — Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for hip and knee replacements
- Neurosurgery — advanced capabilities including robotic-assisted procedures
- Designated Center of Excellence in robotic surgery, colorectal surgery, spine surgery, hernia surgery, bariatric surgery, and minimally invasive gynecology
- Level II neonatal critical care center
- Accredited Breast Center by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
For Commack, Huntington, Melville, Dix Hills, Northport, Kings Park, and the surrounding communities — this is the hospital where your cardiologist admits patients, where your orthopedic surgeon performs joint replacements, where you’d be taken in a trauma situation. It is not a hospital you want to find out is out-of-network after you need it.
The 2026 Network Changes Every Western Suffolk Resident Needs to Know
❌ HEALTHSPRING (formerly Cigna Medicare) — Northwell Out of Network Since January 1, 2026
This is the one that’s been quietly affecting Commack and Huntington-area residents all year — and many people still don’t know it happened.
HealthSpring (formerly known as Cigna Medicare, now operating under new ownership after HCSC acquired Cigna’s Medicare business) terminated its entire network relationship with Northwell Health effective December 31, 2025.
I received direct written notification from HealthSpring as a licensed broker partner:
“Despite negotiations in good faith, Northwell Health will be leaving our Medicare Advantage network in New York effective December 31, 2025. This termination includes all Northwell Health hospitals, ancillaries, and provider groups, as well as their clinically integrated network.”
What this means in plain English: As of January 1, 2026, Huntington Hospital is out-of-network for HealthSpring Medicare Advantage members. Every Northwell-affiliated physician, every Northwell facility, every ancillary service — all out-of-network.
If you’ve been a HealthSpring member and have seen any Northwell provider in 2026 — your primary care doctor, your cardiologist at Huntington Hospital, a specialist at any Northwell outpatient location — those claims have been processed at out-of-network rates. Six months of potential out-of-network costs may already have accumulated without you realizing it.
What to do if you’re on HealthSpring:
- Contact HealthSpring member services immediately and request a review of your 2026 claims
- Call my office at 631-358-5793 — you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to change plans mid-year
❌ WELLCARE — Northwell Out of Network as of July 1, 2026
Wellcare chose not to renew its contract with Northwell Health. The contract expired June 30, 2026. As of July 1 — today — Huntington Hospital and all Northwell facilities, physician groups, and ancillary locations are out-of-network for Wellcare Medicare Advantage members.
The continuity of care window: CMS rules allow for a transition period for established patients:
- Through August 29, 2026: Established Wellcare members may continue active treatment with Northwell providers — but only with Wellcare’s authorization for each service. This is not automatic. You must contact Wellcare directly to confirm authorization for any upcoming Northwell appointments.
- After August 29, 2026: Northwell is fully out-of-network for Wellcare members. Ongoing chronic care (cancer treatment, diabetes management) may have additional transition support — contact Wellcare directly to discuss your specific situation.
- Emergency services: Always covered at in-network cost-sharing rates at any emergency department, regardless of network status. Federal law requires this.
What to do if you’re on Wellcare:
- Before your next Northwell appointment, call Wellcare at the number on your card and confirm authorization
- Ask specifically: “Is [doctor’s name] at Huntington Hospital in-network for my plan effective July 1, 2026?”
- Call my office — depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period
The Plans That Currently Maintain Strong Huntington Hospital Access
Not every carrier has had a falling out with Northwell. Here is the current status of the major Medicare Advantage carriers serving Commack and the surrounding western Suffolk communities:
✅ AETNA — Strong and Stable
Aetna Medicare Advantage maintains an active, confirmed network relationship with Northwell Health — including Huntington Hospital — for 2026. With over 24,441 Suffolk County enrollees in the Aetna Medicare Elite PPO alone, Aetna is the most enrolled Medicare Advantage plan in Suffolk County by a wide margin, and Northwell/Huntington Hospital access is part of why.
Aetna’s PPO structure is particularly well-suited for western Suffolk residents: you can see your cardiologist at Huntington Hospital, your gastroenterologist at St. Catherine of Siena in Smithtown, and your primary care physician at NYU Langone’s Commack office — all without a referral, all in-network. For Commack residents who use more than one of the local health systems, this flexibility has real dollar value.
Always verify your specific physician. While Aetna’s overall Northwell relationship is confirmed and strong, always ask your doctor: “Do you participate in the Aetna Medicare Elite PPO for 2026?” — not just “Do you take Aetna?” Individual physician participation can differ from hospital network participation.
✅ ANTHEM BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD — In-Network for Northwell/Huntington
Anthem maintains an active network relationship with Northwell Health in 2026. Their Medicare Advantage 3 HMO-POS plan carries the only 5-star CMS rating available to standard enrollees in the Commack and Huntington ZIP codes — the highest rating possible.
Two important caveats for Anthem members:
First, Anthem’s network is an HMO-POS structure, which provides less flexibility than a PPO. If you have providers at multiple health systems — both Huntington Hospital (Northwell) and St. Catherine of Siena (Catholic Health), for example — verify that both are covered under your specific Anthem plan before relying on it.
Second, a separate dispute between Anthem and Mount Sinai Health System resulted in Mount Sinai going out-of-network for Anthem Medicare Advantage effective January 1, 2026. While this primarily affects residents whose care is centered on Mount Sinai rather than Northwell, it’s worth knowing that Anthem has had network instability in New York in 2026.
✅ UNITEDHEALTHCARE (AARP branded) — Generally In-Network (verify carefully)
UHC maintains a general network relationship with Northwell Health in New York, and Huntington Hospital is generally accessible to AARP Medicare Advantage members. However, three important caveats apply for western Suffolk residents:
Caveat 1: UHC removed their Regional PPO plans from this market for 2026, eliminating a plan type that offered the broadest provider access. The remaining HMO-POS structure requires more careful network verification.
Caveat 2: UHC’s network depth on Long Island is not what it is nationally. Individual physician participation in Nassau and Suffolk Counties can be more limited than the overall hospital network relationship suggests. Always verify your specific doctor by name — not just the hospital system.
Caveat 3: UHC’s AARP HMO-POS plan in Suffolk County is going through what I’d describe as enrollment management in 2026 — the plan has been structured to make it more difficult for agents to enroll consumers online, and agent compensation has been suspended. This signals that UHC is not actively seeking enrollment growth in this specific plan. It’s not a reason to avoid the plan if it works for your providers — but it’s context worth having.
✅ HEALTHFIRST — Generally In-Network (verify each provider)
Healthfirst maintains a general relationship with Northwell providers in the New York area. Their network is considerably stronger in the five boroughs than in Suffolk County. Commack and Huntington-area residents should verify each specific physician before choosing any Healthfirst plan. The question is not whether Healthfirst “covers Huntington Hospital” in general — it’s whether your specific cardiologist, orthopedist, or primary care physician participates in the Healthfirst plan you’re considering.
✅ MEDIGAP (Any Plan) — Huntington Hospital Always Covered
With any Medicare Supplement plan, Huntington Hospital is fully covered — always. Medigap works alongside Original Medicare. Huntington Hospital accepts Original Medicare. Therefore, with any Medigap plan, your access to Huntington Hospital is permanent and unconditional.
No carrier-hospital contract dispute can change that. When Wellcare and Northwell couldn’t agree on rates, Medigap members were unaffected. When HealthSpring terminated its Northwell relationship in January, Medigap members were unaffected. When whatever dispute happens next year at whatever carrier, Medigap members will be unaffected.
For western Suffolk County residents who have built long-term relationships with physicians at Huntington Hospital — who have a cardiologist they’ve trusted for a decade, a surgeon they’ve worked with through a complex diagnosis — Medigap’s unconditional provider access has value that goes beyond the monthly premium comparison.
Quick Reference: Huntington Hospital Network Status by Carrier (July 2026)
Carrier | Huntington Hospital / Northwell | Status | Notes |
Aetna | ✅ In-Network | Confirmed stable | Most enrolled plan in Suffolk County |
Anthem BCBS | ✅ In-Network | Confirmed | 5-star plan available — verify HMO-POS network scope |
UnitedHealthcare | ✅ Generally in-network | Verify each provider | Regional PPO removed 2026 — verify individual physicians |
Healthfirst | ✅ Generally in-network | Verify each provider | Network thinner in Suffolk than boroughs |
Wellcare | ❌ Out of Network | As of July 1, 2026 | Continuity window through Aug 29 with authorization |
HealthSpring | ❌ Out of Network | Since January 1, 2026 | Full termination — all hospitals, physicians, ancillaries |
Medigap (any) | ✅ Always covered | Permanent | No network restrictions — works wherever Medicare is accepted |
Network status as of July 2026. Network agreements are subject to change. Always verify your specific provider’s participation directly with your carrier before scheduling non-emergency care.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Keeps Happening
What happened with Wellcare and Northwell — and with HealthSpring and Northwell — is not an isolated local story. It’s part of a national pattern that is accelerating in 2026.
Becker’s Hospital Review documented 23 major health systems leaving Medicare Advantage networks nationally in 2026. The pattern is always the same: Medicare Advantage plans pay hospitals less than traditional Medicare, and hospitals reach a point where the reimbursement doesn’t cover the cost of care.
MedPAC’s June 2026 analysis found that while Medicare Advantage plans receive an average of $2,664 more per enrollee from the federal government than estimated costs, that money funds supplemental benefits and margins rather than flowing to providers. Hospitals look at what they receive from Medicare Advantage versus what they receive from Original Medicare — and increasingly, the math doesn’t work.
For you as a consumer, the practical impact is direct and personal. A plan that promised you access to Huntington Hospital’s world-class cardiac program, their nationally recognized orthopedic care, their verified Level III trauma center — may no longer be honoring that promise.
And the dispute that’s happening with Wellcare and Northwell today could happen with a different carrier and a different hospital next year. That instability is structural, not temporary.
What To Do Right Now — Depending on Your Situation
If you’re currently on Wellcare: The Northwell exit is effective July 1. The continuity window runs through August 29 — but it requires Wellcare’s authorization for each service, not automatically. Before your next Northwell appointment:
- Call Wellcare at the number on your insurance card
- Ask specifically about your next scheduled appointment or upcoming procedure
- Request authorization in writing if they grant it
- Call me at 631-358-5793 — let’s review whether you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to change plans
If you’re currently on HealthSpring: Northwell has been out-of-network since January 1, 2026. If you’ve seen any Northwell provider this year:
- Review your Explanation of Benefits documents — have your claims been processed at out-of-network rates?
- Contact HealthSpring to discuss any outstanding claims
- Call me — you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, and we should review your options for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027
If you’re considering a new Medicare Advantage plan: Before you look at a single premium, give me your doctor’s name. I’ll run a live network check against every plan available in your ZIP code. Not a general “does this carrier cover Northwell” search — a specific check for your physician, your plan type, and your address. That’s the only check that actually matters.
If you’re currently on Medigap: You’re protected from everything in this article. Your access to Huntington Hospital — and to every Medicare-accepting provider anywhere in the country — is not affected by any carrier network dispute. Review your Part D coverage annually and make sure your Medigap premium is still competitive, but don’t lose sleep over network changes.
If you’re turning 65 and choosing Medicare coverage for the first time: The Wellcare and HealthSpring situations are exactly the kind of thing an independent broker helps you navigate before you enroll — not after you discover it when you try to schedule a procedure. That’s what I do. My consultation is free and there’s no pressure to choose anything. I’ll show you every option available in your area and give you my honest read on which fits your situation
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Wellcare chose not to renew its contract with Northwell Health. Effective July 1, 2026, Huntington Hospital — a Northwell Health facility — is out-of-network for Wellcare Medicare Advantage members. Emergency services remain covered at in-network rates. Established patients may continue Northwell care through August 29, 2026 with Wellcare’s authorization. After that date, all non-emergency Northwell care is out-of-network.
No. HealthSpring (formerly Cigna Medicare) terminated its entire network relationship with Northwell Health effective December 31, 2025. As of January 1, 2026, Huntington Hospital and all Northwell facilities, physician groups, and ancillaries are out-of-network for HealthSpring members. If you’ve been a HealthSpring member and have seen Northwell providers in 2026, contact HealthSpring to review your claims.
Yes. Aetna maintains an active network relationship with Northwell Health — including Huntington Hospital — for 2026. Aetna’s Medicare Elite PPO is the most enrolled Medicare Advantage plan in Suffolk County with 24,441+ enrollees. Always verify your specific physician’s participation before enrolling.
Generally yes — Huntington Hospital and Northwell are generally in-network for standard AARP Medicare Advantage plans through UHC. However, UHC removed their Regional PPO from this market for 2026, and individual physician network participation in Suffolk County can be more limited than the hospital-level relationship suggests. Always verify your specific doctor by name.
CMS assigns star ratings based on dozens of quality metrics — patient outcomes, safety measures, care coordination, patient experience, readmission rates, and more. Only about 12% of hospitals nationally earn five stars. Huntington Hospital has been top-rated by CMS five times since 2021, most recently in 2026 for safety of care and mortality. It has also earned Magnet nursing designation five consecutive times — one of only 33 hospitals in the country with this distinction — reflecting consistently exceptional clinical operations across multiple independent evaluation cycles. (Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson is the other Suffolk County 5-star hospital in 2026.)
Possibly. CMS Special Enrollment Period rules allow plan changes when your plan makes a significant mid-year change that affects your access to care. The eligibility depends on your specific situation — your plan type, the nature of the network change, and your circumstances. Call me at 631-358-5793 and I’ll review your situation at no charge.
Yes — completely. Medigap plans work alongside Original Medicare. Huntington Hospital accepts Original Medicare. With any Medigap plan, your access to Huntington Hospital is permanent and cannot be affected by any carrier-hospital network dispute. In New York, you can switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap at any time of year, without medical underwriting, regardless of your health history. If network stability matters to you, that option is available today.
Contact Wellcare immediately at the number on your insurance card. Explain that you are an established patient with ongoing care at Huntington Hospital and ask about your options under the continuity of care window that runs through August 29, 2026. Authorization is required for each service — it is not automatic. Also call me at 631-358-5793. Depending on your situation, we may be able to explore a mid-year plan change that protects your access going forward.
I'm Here to Help — No Charge, No Pressure
My office is just minutes from Commack and the Huntington area. I’ve been helping residents of this community navigate Medicare for 18 years. I know Huntington Hospital. I know these carriers. I’ve watched these network disputes unfold in real time and I’ve helped clients find new plans, invoke continuity of care protections, and protect their access to the doctors they trust.
If you’re worried about your Huntington Hospital coverage — if you’re on Wellcare or HealthSpring and wondering what your options are — call me. I’ll look at your specific plan, your specific doctors, and your specific situation, and I’ll give you an honest answer about what your options are.
That conversation is always free.
Paul Barrett, CMIP The Modern Medicare Agency 📞 631-358-5793 ✉️ medicare@paulbinsurance.com 🌐 paulbinsurance.com 📍 445 Broad Hollow Rd, Melville, NY 11747
Serving Commack, Huntington, Melville, Dix Hills, Kings Park, Northport, and all of western Suffolk County since 2007
Related reading:
- Medicare Advantage Plans in Commack, NY: Your Honest 2026 Local Guide
- Medicare Supplement Plans in Commack, NY: 2026 Rates and the Real Story
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap in Commack: The Three-System Problem
- Northwell Health and Medicare in Farmingdale: Which Plans Cover Your Doctors in 2026
- Mount Sinai South Nassau and Medicare in Freeport: Which Plans Cover Your South Shore Doctors
- Medicare in Commack, NY: The Complete 2026 Local Guide
- When Is the Best Time to Switch Medicare Supplement Plans?
Primary sources:
- Huntington Hospital — About (5-Star CMS Rating, Magnet Status, Level III Trauma)
- TBR News Media — Seven Northwell Hospitals Earn CMS 5-Star Ratings 2026
- Northwell Health — Wellcare Network Update
- [HealthSpring Broker Communication — Northwell Termination Effective December 31, 2025 (direct broker notification)]
- Becker’s Hospital Review — Health Systems Dropping Medicare Advantage Plans 2026
- MedPAC June 2026 Report to Congress
- CMS Medicare Advantage Enrollment Data 2026
- Medicare.gov Plan Finder
Disclaimer: The Modern Medicare Agency is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Network participation status reflects information available as of July 2026 and is subject to change. Contract negotiations between carriers and health systems are ongoing — always verify current network status directly with your carrier before scheduling non-emergency care. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options
