LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — Centra Health will stop accepting Humana’s Medicare Advantage plans starting January 1, 2026, leaving many local patients facing tough choices about their healthcare coverage.

The decision could force patients to either switch insurance plans or change doctors. Insurance broker Betty Brickhouse said she was surprised when she found out this was happening. “People are very worried about this. A lot of people have Humana in the area and they have been happy with the plans and so they are very concerned,” she said.

“I really thought, you know what, they are going to work this out, but when the letter went out to everyone who has a Humana plan, it was clear that it wasn’t going to work out,” Brickhouse said.

ABC13 asked why some are hesitant to switch over to other plans right now. She said, “Once you have experience with a good plan, you are slow to move out of it because you don’t know what you might be moving into.”

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For Appomattox resident Susan Cope, that decision isn’t easy.

“To me that’s not fair, that’s not right,” Cope said. “If our needs aren’t met with the other plan, it’s kind of too bad, you’re stuck.”

Cope said she plans to stay with Humana because other plans don’t meet her family’s medical needs. The other option in Appomattox does not cover her specialists she has had for many years, but that means driving much farther for care.

“Well over an hour, an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half away,” she said, referring to hospitals in Charlottesville and South Boston that remain in Humana’s network.

Centra’s reason for the split

In a statement, Centra Health said the move comes after Humana “has not met its contractual payment obligations for care provided by Centra,” which the health system says threatens its ability to invest in staff and technology that protect access to care.

“At Centra, caring for and caring about our patients and communities is at the heart of everything we do,” the statement reads.

“In the best interest of those we serve, we have notified Humana Medicare Advantage of our intent not to renew our contract, effective January 1, 2026. Humana has not met its contractual payment obligations for care provided by Centra, which threatens our ability to invest in the people, services, and technology that protect access to care for our patients. Our efforts to resolve our differences and reach fair terms with Humana have not been successful.”

“We value patient choice and believe our community deserves access to high-quality care. We have proactively notified patients who may be impacted and provided information about their coverage options. Centra remains in-network with other Medicare Advantage plans and continues to accept traditional Medicare for those who may choose to return to Medicare and purchase a supplemental plan.”

Centra declined an interview.

Humana’s response

Humana also declined an interview but provided a written statement to ABC 13, saying they’re still in active discussions with Centra to try to renew the agreement.

“Humana remains deeply committed to supporting our members’ health and well-being by ensuring they have access to high-quality, affordable care,” the company said.

“Our partnerships with healthcare providers play a vital role in delivering that care. Humana is currently in active discussions with Centra Health to renew our agreement. These conversations are focused on finding a path forward that balances affordability, care quality, and long-term sustainability for our members.”

“We are working in good faith to reach a resolution that avoids disruption and maintains access to trusted care in Virginia. We understand that news of potential changes can be concerning. Our priority is to keep members informed and supported throughout this process.”

“If an agreement is not reached by December 31, we will provide clear guidance and personalized assistance to help members continue receiving the care they need. If members have questions or need assistance, they can call Humana’s toll-free customer support line found on the back of their insurance cards.”

Centra said their are dozens of other hospital networks across the country that are also dropping Humana.

What patients can do next

Brickhouse said patients who want to stick with Centra should use open enrollment, which runs through December 7, to review their coverage and find out what plans include their current doctors.

“The plans are trying to manage costs. The hospitals are trying to meet their costs, and sometimes those just don’t meet,” Brickhouse said.

She said people can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, or move to Original Medicare, which covers 80 percent of costs, and add a supplemental plan to cover the rest.

“It’s just important that they do the research or have someone help them do the research, to make sure their doctors are in-network and their prescriptions are covered,” Brickhouse said.

For anyone who misses the December 7 deadline, there’s another opportunity: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, which allows people already in a Medicare Advantage plan to switch plans or return to Original Medicare.

She recommends people talk with a local insurance broker, like her, who understands all the plans in your area. She said you can also call the Medicare Helpline or navigate through their website.