Temporary Agreement Reached Between United Healthcare and INTEGRIS Health, Providing Relief to Thousands in Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, OK – February 8, 2026 — A temporary agreement has been reached between United Healthcare and INTEGRIS Health, extending their contract and offering much-needed relief to thousands of Oklahomans who were at risk of losing their healthcare coverage.
The healthcare providers initially failed to come to terms before a critical deadline, causing widespread alarm among patients who rely on INTEGRIS Health—one of the largest hospital groups in the state—and United Healthcare insurance plans. The breakdown threatened to leave many Oklahomans facing either costly out-of-network charges or the daunting task of finding new doctors.
Francisco Chavez, a patient who discovered the issue only recently, expressed his surprise and frustration: “I was honestly blindsided. I had no clue about this until today.” Chavez was among many who found out that their United Healthcare insurance would no longer be accepted at INTEGRIS facilities if no agreement was reached.
Another patient, Jose Diosdado, shared his concerns after being informed by an INTEGRIS nurse that he would be liable for out-of-network costs due to the contract dispute. “It’s going to be tough. You like seeing somebody for the past five, six years. It’s been great seeing the same one, the same doctor,” Chavez added, highlighting the personal impact of the dispute on ongoing patient care.
After working past the deadline, the two parties notified KOCO 5 on the evening of February 7th that they had agreed to extend coverage temporarily. This extension will maintain health insurance acceptance for most patients through the following month, encompassing individuals enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and individual family plans.
While this temporary arrangement provides a short-term solution, there are no guarantees the coverage extension will continue beyond next month. The current agreement is set to expire on March 9, 2026. Both United Healthcare and INTEGRIS Health have committed to ongoing negotiations toward securing a longer-term, multi-year contract.
Diosdado also voiced his worries about the limited healthcare options available within the state, stating, “We don’t have that many hospitals. What? We have Mercy? We have INTEGRIS? Where else am I supposed to get the health coverage that I need?”
The sudden contract dispute and temporary resolution have brought to light the vulnerability faced by patients dependent on specific insurance networks and hospital providers. Oklahoma residents are encouraged to stay informed of developments as discussions continue.
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Reporter: Patrick Talbot, KOCO 5
Updated: 12:20 PM CST, February 8, 2026