Is Humana pulling out of Medicare Advantage plans?
Asked by: Doug Stehr | Last update: July 27, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (41 votes)
Why is Humana losing Medicare Advantage plans?
To protect profits, Humana and its peers in MA slashed their plans for 2025, cutting benefits and exiting underperforming markets. Plans appear to have focused cuts around supplemental benefits like over-the-counter and flex cards, which give seniors funds to spend on eligible items.
Is Humana in trouble financially?
Humana shares, among the sector's most hard hit, have fallen nearly 44% so far this year, after the company withdrew its 2025 forecast previously, citing disappointing government Medicare reimbursement rates.
What changes are coming to Humana in 2025?
In 2025, the Part D “donut hole” will close
In 2025, the Part D “donut hole,” or coverage gap, will close. Once you reach your Part D deductible, you'll pay no more than 25% of the cost for Part D drugs covered by your plan until you reach the new maximum out-of-pocket drug cost of $2,000.
What's going on with Humana?
Humana has announced that it will be exiting the Employer Group Commercial Medical Products business, which includes all fully insured, self-funded and Federal Employee Health Benefit medical plans, as well as associated wellness and rewards programs. No other Humana health plan offerings are materially affected.
GDL: Humana Discusses Medicare's Advantage Plan
What went wrong at Humana?
Humana's stock dived when it announced a sharp decline in memberships for the top-rated Medicare Advantage (MA) plan. There are serious concerns among investors that the company may not be as attractive an income investment play as it used to be. Humana earns revenue through healthcare services and health insurance.
Why are hospitals refusing Medicare Advantage plans?
Among the most commonly cited reasons are excessive prior authorization denial rates and slow payments from insurers. In 2023, Becker's began reporting on hospitals and health systems nationwide that dropped some or all of their Medicare Advantage contracts.
What is the downside of Humana?
High cost limits: Humana's average maximum out-of-pocket limit on plans is the highest of the major providers.
What states is Humana Medicare leaving?
Similarly, because of CVS Health Aetna's moves, Humana now feels secure with losing 5% of its Medicare Advantage plan enrollees after it exits unprofitable markets, primarily in the Southeastern states of Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Illinois.
How much does Humana cost per month for seniors?
Premiums for Humana's plans start at $0 per month in addition to your Medicare Part B premium. In 2024, the standard part B premium amount is $174.70, but this number can go all the way up to $594 per month for high-earning seniors3.
Why do people say not to get a Medicare Advantage plan?
Disadvantages of Medicare Advantage plans can include difficulty switching out of the plans later, restrictions on care access, limited provider networks, and limitations on extra benefits.
Why did Humana lose star ratings?
More than one dozen of Humana's plans received lower stars because of the higher cut points, the payer said. Humana also accused the CMS of not giving the insurer a chance to verify regulators' calculations, in a break with historical norms.
Why are hospitals dropping Humana Advantage plans?
Health systems have cited delayed reimbursements, cumbersome prior authorization requirements and high rates of patient claim denials for their decisions to drop Medicare Advantage plans.
Why are people leaving the Medicare Advantage plan?
Key takeaways: People leave Medicare Advantage plans because out-of-pocket costs vary between plans, network restrictions can cause frustration, prior authorization requests can delay care, and it can be difficult to use the additional benefits they provide.
Did UnitedHealthcare buy out Humana?
United HealthCare Corp.'s acquisition of Humana Inc., once valued at $5.5 billion, has been derailed by a plunge in United's stock price. The companies said today that they mutually agreed to scrap the deal, which would have created one of the nation's largest managed-care companies.
Why is Humana canceling Medicare Advantage plans?
In July, Diamond said the company expected to lose a few hundred thousand members in 2025. Humana ended plans that did not have a path to profitability, Diamond said. Rising medical costs and lower reimbursements from CMS led Humana and other insurers to plan market exits in 2025.
What are the top 5 medicare supplement plans?
💬 From our Nerds: What are the top five Medicare supplement plans? "Based on NerdWallet's Medigap rubric, I picked five best Medicare Supplement Insurance companies for 2025: AARP/UnitedHealthcare, Mutual of Omaha, State Farm, Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
What went wrong with Humana?
Investors are fleeing Humana after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services cut the quality rating of the company's largest Medicare Advantage plan.
What is the biggest disadvantage of the Medicare Advantage plan?
Medicare Advantage Plan Pros And Cons
One disadvantage is that some Medicare Advantage plans may offer fewer options when it comes to doctors and hospitals, as they may have smaller plan networks than Original Medicare.
What is the two midnight rule for Humana?
What is the two-midnight rule? The two-midnight rule, enacted in 2013, states that traditional Medicare must pay for an inpatient stay if admitting clinicians anticipate patients will remain in the hospital for at least “two midnights.” Beginning this year, Medicare Advantage insurers must also follow the rule.
Why are seniors losing Medicare Advantage plans?
Medicare vs Privatized Medicare Advantage
Beneficiaries are tossed aside because they live in an unprofitable market for their insurer or because they are actually using the insurance they signed up for to access services.
Which health insurance denies the most claims?
According to the analysis, AvMed and UnitedHealthcare tied for the highest denial rate, with both companies denying about a third of in-network claims for plans sold on the Marketplace in 2023, respectively.
Can I drop my Medicare Advantage plan and go back to original Medicare?
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: Between January 1 and March 31 of each year, if you already have a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) you can: Switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage). Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare.