Imagine being nine months pregnant, just weeks away from your due date, only to discover you’ll need to find a new doctor because your healthcare provider is dropping your insurance. This is the harsh reality thousands of Central New Yorkers are facing right now. CNY Family Care, a trusted practice on Brittonfield Parkway, has announced it will no longer accept United Healthcare commercial and United Medical Resources (UMR) insurance plans starting January 1, 2026. This decision, described by the practice as being made 'with great sadness,' comes after failed negotiations with UnitedHealthcare over reimbursement policies—a contentious issue that highlights the growing friction between healthcare providers and insurance companies.
But here's where it gets even more complicated: For families like Samantha Pericho’s, who’s expecting her fourth child, this change isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a crisis. 'I was like, oh no, what are we going to do?' she shared, echoing the anxiety of countless others in her situation. Pericho, a lifelong patient at CNY Family Care, was blindsided by the news, which arrived via a letter in the mail. 'Health insurance is definitely a tricky business right now,' she noted, pointing out that her family of six already juggles two separate insurance plans just to make ends meet financially.
And this is the part most people miss: While Pericho was fortunate to secure another provider, it won’t happen until July—leaving her with no coverage at CNY Family Care during those critical months. 'I wasn’t even able to pay out of pocket to continue treatment,' she explained, underscoring the rigidity of the situation. CNY Family Care has advised patients to switch to an in-network plan if they wish to stay with their current doctors, but for those who can’t or won’t, the clock is ticking to find alternative care by next year.
But here’s the controversial part: Is this just a localized dispute, or a symptom of a much larger problem in the healthcare system? Pericho believes it’s the latter, suggesting this could be the start of a troubling trend. 'I don’t necessarily think this is a CNY Family Care issue,' she said. 'I think this might be something we’ll see more of moving forward.'
CNY Family Care’s billing staff is available to assist patients during this transition—call 315-463-1600, option 5 for help. Meanwhile, NewsChannel 9 has reached out to United Healthcare for comment but has yet to receive a response.
What do you think? Is this a fair decision by CNY Family Care, or are patients being unfairly caught in the crossfire? Could this be a wake-up call for broader healthcare reform? Share your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation that needs to happen.
