NEW JERSEY – Patients and doctors across Ocean County and the state are scrambling for answers as Optum, a health provider owned by UnitedHealth, prepares to shut down dozens of medical offices statewide by December 1 — including primary care, pediatrics, and several specialty practices.
The closures affect eight major specialties — gastroenterology, podiatry, chiropractic, dermatology, endocrinology, orthopedics, pulmonology, and behavioral health — as well as nearly 40 primary and pediatric care offices. Some buildings house multiple specialties, meaning several services will disappear at once.
Locations in Toms River, Brick and Manahawkin are among those losing local providers.
An Optum spokesperson said the company is consolidating operations as part of “our commitment to making health care more affordable,” adding that it regularly reviews its “services, footprint and staffing levels” to adapt to market changes.
The company declined to specify the total number of affected sites or patients but said it is “supporting affected team members with job placement resources” and “providing clear information and support to our patients to ensure uninterrupted care.”
The company has also reported more than 180 layoffs tied to its New Jersey operations.
Patients concerned about accessing medical records can visit Optum’s online Medical Records page for instructions on how to request files before offices close.
The widespread shutdowns come as both patients and providers express frustration over the short notice and uncertainty about where ongoing care will continue after December 1.
