Vermont state officials say 5,000 UnitedHealthcare members are at risk of losing coverage within the University of Vermont Medicine Health Network, up from the 3,000 estimated earlier this month, according to VTDigger.
The contract between Burlington-based UVM Health Network and UnitedHealthcare is set to expire April 1.
Only members covered under UnitedHealthcare's employer-provided plans are affected, not those with Medicare supplemental or veterans' health insurance plans.
UnitedHealthcare said the two could not come to an agreement over reimbursement fees from the payer. UVM Health Network cited administrative issues such as delays for care approvals.
The Green Mountain Care Board, which has jurisdiction over healthcare plans offered on the state marketplace but not over UnitedHealthcare employer-provided plans, is hopeful regarding a possible resolution between the two organizations.
"I'm very optimistic that this is going to be settled within 48 hours," Kevin Mullin, chair of the regulatory Green Mountain Care Board, told VTDigger.