Aetna Health Insurance and UCLA Health

Important information for patients with Aetna health insurance plans

(Updated January 15, 2026)

Unless a new agreement is reached before March 1, 2026, Aetna will no longer consider UCLA Health to be part of its HMO and PPO networks. If that happens, Aetna members may face significantly higher out-of-pocket expenses — or even find that Aetna will no longer cover these costs at all.

Negotiations are ongoing. We are focused on helping our patients and their families avoid unanticipated expenses and disruptions.

HMO patients: You may have received a notice from Aetna assigning you to a new primary care physician outside of UCLA Health, even as negotiations are continuing. You may have a right to keep your UCLA Health primary care physician for a designated period of time. Please contact Aetna’s member services department. If you have further questions, you are encouraged to contact the Department of Managed Health Care, which protects consumers, by telephone at its toll-free number, 1-888-466-2219, or at a TDD number for those who are hearing- or speech-impaired at 1-877-688-9891, or online at dmhc.ca.gov.

See below for more details on who may be eligible for Transition/Continuity Coverage services. 

PPO patients: You also may be eligible to continue your care with UCLA Health for a designated period of time without interruption or increased costs, even if you haven’t received a notice from Aetna.

All Aetna-insured patients: Nothing is changing just yet. You can still receive care at UCLA Health before March 1 without changes.

For patients with appointments or procedures scheduled for March 1 or later, we encourage you to apply to Aetna as soon as possible for Transition/Continuity Coverage. 

Please join us in asking Aetna to find a way to help us keep pace with the rising cost of providing care. 

Transition/Continuity Coverage Services

State law provides patients the opportunity to continue care related to certain medical conditions if your current physician is no longer in your health plan. Examples of those who may be eligible for Transition/Continuity Coverage services include patients who are pregnant, children under the age of 3, patients who are awaiting a transplant or have received a transplant, patients who have an upcoming scheduled surgery or procedure, and patients who have certain acute conditions, serious chronic medical conditions or terminal illnesses. More details are on the California Department of Managed Health Care website.

Take These Steps

  1. Download the Aetna Transition/Continuity Coverage Request form below that applies to your health plan. Your plan information can be found on your Aetna membership card.
  2. Complete sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Transition/Continuity Coverage Request form.
  3. Submit your form through myUCLAhealth or to your UCLA Health physician’s office so section 4 can be completed. UCLA Health will submit the signed form to Aetna on your behalf.
  4. For questions about your eligibility for continuing care, we encourage you to call the toll-free telephone number on your Aetna membership card.

Transition/Continuity Coverage Request Forms

HMO members: Aetna policy and form to fill out

PPO members: Aetna policy and form to fill out

UCLA Health representatives are ready to help you understand what is happening. Call 310-301-8700 (choose option 1), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. You can also reach out to your UCLA Health physician’s office.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Aetna Patients

What is happening?

UCLA Health has been negotiating with Aetna on a new agreement for several months. Unfortunately, we thus far have been unable to reach a fair agreement. If an agreement cannot be reached before the contract expires on March 1, 2026, Aetna will consider UCLA Health physicians, hospitals and clinics to be out of its HMO and PPO networks. 

What does this mean for Aetna HMO plan members?

Even as negotiations continue, Aetna has sent notices transferring HMO members to primary care physicians outside of UCLA Health. Unless you are referred to UCLA Health by your new primary care physician or medical group, this will limit your access to elective inpatient and outpatient care from UCLA Health and its physicians.

What does this mean for Aetna PPO plan members who receive care at UCLA Health?

If the contract lapses and a new agreement is not in place, Aetna will consider UCLA Health out of network for these plan members. That means higher out-of-pocket expenses for those patients.

What happens if I qualify for Transition/Continuity Coverage services?

If Aetna determines you qualify for Transition/Continuity Coverage services, UCLA Health will honor in-network rates for a predetermined period of time set by Aetna, even if Aetna considers UCLA Health out-of-network. These patients should not have increased out-of-pocket costs.

What happens if Aetna denies Transition/Continuity Coverage services?

Your out-of-pocket expenses such as copays and deductibles may increase because care provided by UCLA Health will be out-of-network or may not be covered at all. You should call the member/customer service phone number on the back of your health plan identification card and speak with Aetna to understand your options. The health plan is responsible for decisions about Transition/Continuity Coverage.

If you are an HMO member, you may also call the California Department of Managed Health Care’s Help Center at 1-888-466-2219. If you are a PPO member, you may call the California Department of Insurance consumer hotline at 1-800-927-4357.

What if I have a medical appointment or procedure scheduled with UCLA Health before March 1, 2026?

Care you receive at UCLA Health before March 1, 2026, will still be considered in network by Aetna.

What if I have a medical appointment or procedure with UCLA Health on or after March 1, 2026?

We want to help you avoid disruptions in care or unanticipated expenses. It is important for you to contact Aetna to determine your eligibility for Transition/Continuity Coverage services before coming to your appointment at UCLA Health.

What if I am in the hospital on or after 12:01 on March 1, 2026?

You will be covered by Aetna until you are discharged from the hospital. However, Aetna may elect to transfer you to another hospital that they consider in-network. Aetna is permitted to transfer a patient only if the transfer can be safely performed.

Before your procedure, we encourage you to apply to Aetna for Transition/Continuity Coverage services as described above. Please also confirm the details of your insurance benefit by calling the member/customer service phone number on the back of your health plan identification card.

What if an agreement is reached before the current agreement expires?

For HMO members, if we secure a new agreement prior to March 1, 2026, and you already have been assigned to a new primary care physician outside of UCLA Health, Aetna will notify you, and you can then request to be reassigned back to a UCLA Health physician. Aetna will not reassign you back to UCLA Health unless you request it. UCLA Health is not permitted to make the request for you.

Which UCLA Health facilities and physicians are impacted?

All UCLA Health hospitals, clinics, physicians and health care professionals rely on our agreement with Aetna to remain in network for you.

Contact Us

We value our patients and want to help you understand what is happening.

UCLA Health representatives are standing by at 310-301-8700 (choose option 1), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. You can also contact your UCLA Health physician’s office.