By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – The nearly one million people in the St. Louis region who have coverage from from United Healthcare could soon have fewer choices.
Tenet Healthcare said Wednesday it will end its contract with United for SLU and Des Peres Hospitals on July 1. That means United customers will have to pay higher rates to use either hospital.
BJC HealthCare has also already previously said it's ending its contract with United on August 13 at its ten hospitals, including Barnes-Jewish.
The decisions could affect United customers who need complex procedures like organ transplants. Barnes-Jewish and SLU typically perform more of those procedures than other hospitals.