Which Medicare Advantage plans are being discontinued?

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Major private insurers like Humana and UnitedHealthcare are discontinuing select Medicare Advantage plans and reducing their geographic footprints ahead of the 2027 plan year, affecting over one million enrollees.

📊 Overview of Insurer Cuts

  • Humana: Cutting plans affecting approximately 600,000 members by scaling back service areas.
  • UnitedHealthcare: Discontinuing plans impacting roughly 390,000 members and reducing footprints across dozens of counties.
  • Aetna (CVS Health) & Centene: Pulling back footprints and trimming unprofitable regional or PPO offerings.
  • Molina: Discontinuing standard individual Medicare Advantage plans entirely in certain markets.

💡 Why Plans Are Being Discontinued

  • Rising Costs: Higher medical care utilization and prescription drug costs for seniors.
  • Lower Reimbursements: Reduced federal overpayment rates and tighter government margins.
  • Profitability Strategy: Insurers are exiting less profitable rural counties and cutting expensive PPO networks.

🗓 Critical Action Dates

  • October 2, 2026: Deadline for insurers to mail official non-renewal notices to affected members.
  • October 15 – December 7, 2026: Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period to pick a new plan.
  • January 1, 2027: Discontinued coverage officially ends, and new selections take effect.
  • Through February 28, 2027: Special Enrollment Period for affected members who missed the standard window.

Are seniors going to lose their Medicare Advantage plans?

Yes, more than one million seniors will lose or face major changes to their Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 as major insurance companies scale back their footprint.

Why Plans Are Being Cut

According to an analysis by Healthcare Dive, insurers are reducing plan options to deal with high medical spending and rising care costs.

  • Humana is dropping plans that cover about 600,000 members.
  • UnitedHealth Group is discontinuing plans affecting roughly 390,000 members.
  • Other major providers, including CVS Health’s Aetna and Centene, are also reducing their plan offerings.
  • However, as noted by POLITICO, federal regulators maintain that the overall market remains broad, even as specific counties and options are trimmed. Additional details on these market retreats can be found via Yahoo Finance.

What You Should Do

  • Watch your mail: Affected members receive non-renewal notices or an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) from their insurer.
  • Mark the dates: Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026.
  • Check your options: You can pick a new Medicare Advantage plan or switch back to Original Medicare.

Which Medicare Advantage plans will be dropped by UnitedHealthcare in 2026?

You can review specific plan availability and changes through Medicare.gov to see if your area or specific policy is affected.

In 2026, UnitedHealthcare is scaling back its Medicare Advantage footprint, withdrawing plans from 109 U.S. counties across 16 states (including an almost complete exit from Vermont and reductions in rural Minnesota, Kansas, and parts of the Southeast).

Key Details of the 2026 Cutbacks

  • Members Affected: Around 180,000 policyholders face direct non-renewals due to complete market exits, as part of a broader contraction projected to impact up to 1 million total memberships over time.
  • Plan Types Dropped: The reductions primarily target rural and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) offerings, which the company noted underperform compared to Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) options.
  • Main Drivers: Rising medical utilization, climbing outpatient and prescription drug costs, and federal funding reductions from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

What will happen to UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans in 2027?

For 2027, UnitedHealthcare is reducing service areas, discontinuing about 690 specific plans, and notifying affected members with non-renewal letters dated October 2, 2026.

Plan Reductions and Cancellations

  • Service Area Cuts: UnitedHealthcare is cutting select plan offerings and reducing geographic footprints across multiple states and counties.
  • Member Notifications: Impacted members were sent non-renewal notices on October 2, 2026, explaining that their specific plan will not return in 2027.
  • Automatic Reversion: If an affected member does not actively enroll in a new plan, they will automatically return to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027. Losing a discontinued plan that included drug coverage also means losing Part D benefits unless a new plan is chosen.

Continuing 2027 Offerings and Benefits

Despite the cuts, UnitedHealthcare continues to offer wide-reaching 2027 Medicare Advantage Plans focusing on affordability and coordinated care:

  • Broad Access: Coverage remains available to over 94% of Medicare-eligible people nationwide, with roughly 90% having access to a $0 premium option.
  • Core $0 Benefits: Plans preserve $0 primary care visits, $0 preventive services, and $0 Tier 1 prescription drug copays.
  • Focus on HMOs and Special Needs: The insurer is prioritizing value-driven HMO networks, Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), and Chronic Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs).

What Affected Members Can Do

  • Enrollment Window: Members affected by a discontinuation can enroll in a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan between October 15, 2026, and December 31, 2026, for a January 1 effective date.
  • Special Election Period: Those who roll over into Original Medicare on January 1 but still want an advantage plan have a special enrollment window through February 28, 2027.

What happens if my Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued?

If your Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued, you will automatically return to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) if you take no action or if your insurer does not move you to a consolidated plan.

Read the official guidance provided by Medicare to understand your rights and next steps when a plan ends.

What Happens to Your Coverage

  • Core Medical Coverage: You will still have hospital (Part A) and medical (Part B) coverage through Original Medicare.
  • Prescription Drugs: Your bundled prescription drug coverage from the Medicare Advantage plan will end. You must actively choose a standalone Part D plan to avoid a coverage gap and late penalties.
  • Automatic Changes: Your insurance company may send a notice explaining that they are moving you to a different plan or a consolidated replacement option within the same carrier.

Your Enrollment Options and Timing

  • Notice and Letters: Your insurer must notify you in writing (typically via an Annual Notice of Change or Notice of Termination) by September 30 if the plan ends December 31.
  • Special Enrollment Period (SEP): Because the termination is through no fault of your own, you get a special window to sign up for a new Medicare Advantage plan or traditional Medicare. This usually lasts for 60 days or runs through the end of February depending on the timing.
  • Medigap Protections: Returning to Original Medicare during an SEP gives you guaranteed issue rights for specific Medigap supplemental insurance policies without medical underwriting.

Medicare Advantage Plan CANCELED for 2027: What To Do Next

9 related questions found

What are the worst Medicare Advantage plans for seniors?

The "worst" Medicare Advantage plans are generally identified by low federal star ratings (fewer than 3 stars), high out-of-pocket maximums, narrow local provider networks, and a heavy reliance on prior authorization requirements that delay or deny care.

Instead of a single nationwide "worst" company, low-performing options change by region and year. You can spot poorly rated or risky plans by watching for specific warning signs.

Red Flags of Low-Quality Plans

  • Low Star Ratings: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rate plans from 1 to 5 stars. Plans with 3 stars or fewer have below-average quality, customer service, and care outcomes.
  • High Out-of-Pocket Limits: Some plans push the in-network medical out-of-pocket limit up toward the federal maximum ($9,250 or higher), meaning a severe medical year could cost you significantly more.
  • Strict Prior Authorization: Low-tier private plans frequently require pre-approval for routine specialist visits, MRIs, or certain drugs, which often leads to delayed treatments.
  • Restricted Local Networks: HMO plans that force you to get primary care referrals before seeing a specialist, or plans with very few participating local doctors and hospitals.
  • Unstable Benefits: Plans that frequently drop participating doctors, alter drug formularies (covered medications), or drastically change co-pays from one year to the next.

How to Check Your Plan's Rating

You can evaluate specific regional offerings using the official Medicare Plan Finder tool to review current star ratings, estimated annual costs, and network rules before enrolling or renewing.

Who will lose Medicare in 2026?

No broad groups of people are losing traditional Medicare in 2026, but some Medicare Advantage enrollees face forced plan terminations, and roughly 100,000 lawfully present immigrants are projected to lose Medicare later due to recent federal legislation.

Medicare Advantage Changes

  • Forced Disenrollment: According to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, about 1 in 10 Medicare Advantage enrollees face forced plan disenrollment in 2026 as insurers scale back offerings.
  • Network Drops: Major health systems nationwide have dropped specific Medicare Advantage plans due to disputes over prior authorization and reimbursements.

Immigrant Eligibility and Future Cuts

  • Medicaid vs. Medicare: Recent changes from the federal spending law (such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) primarily target Medicaid eligibility for certain lawfully present immigrants starting October 1, 2026.
  • Medicare Impact: While Medicaid changes took effect in late 2026, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that roughly 100,000 lawfully present immigrants could eventually lose Medicare coverage, with formal terminations anticipated around February 1, 2027.

What company has the highest rated Medicare Advantage plan?

Kaiser Permanente and Alignment Healthcare rank highest for star ratings, with 100% of their members in plans rated four stars or higher.

Top-Rated National Companies

  • Kaiser Permanente: Achieves top marks with 100% of members in 4+ star plans, though its availability is limited to select states.
  • Alignment Healthcare: Also ties at 100% for members in highly rated plans, but operates in a smaller number of states.
  • Aetna Medicare: Leads among major national carriers with wide availability, having over 81% of members in plans rated 4 stars or higher.
  • UnitedHealthcare: Follows closely, with 78% of its members in 4+ star plans and the largest nationwide provider network.

Ratings vary significantly by location, and specific plan performance depends heavily on your local county and ZIP code. You can check specific plan quality using the Official Medicare Plan Finder.

Is it better to have straight Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan?

Neither option is universally "better"; Original Medicare (straight Medicare) and Medicare Advantage suit different health needs, budgets, and preferences.

To decide which is right for you, compare how each option handles key factors:

Original Medicare (Parts A and B)

  • Doctor Choice: You can see any doctor or go to any hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. You do not need referrals to see specialists.
  • Approvals: You rarely need prior authorization or permission from an insurance company for tests or treatments.
  • Costs: It does not have an annual out-of-pocket maximum unless you buy a separate Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy.
  • Extras: It does not cover prescription drugs (you need a separate Part D plan) or routine dental, vision, and hearing.

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

  • All-in-One Bundles: These private plans combine Part A, Part B, and usually Part D (prescription drugs), often with low or zero monthly premiums.
  • Extra Benefits: They frequently include routine dental, vision, hearing, and gym memberships.
  • Financial Protection: They include a mandatory annual out-of-pocket spending cap (capped at $9,250 for in-network care).
  • Restrictions: You are usually limited to local provider networks (like HMOs or PPOs), and you may need referrals or prior authorization for care.

Which Should You Choose?

  • Choose Original Medicare (with Medigap) if you travel often within the U.S., want the freedom to see any specialist without a referral, and prefer predictable medical bills with fewer coverage denials.
  • Choose Medicare Advantage if you want lower monthly premiums, extra perks like dental or vision care, and a hard cap on your yearly out-of-pocket costs, and you are comfortable using a specific local network of doctors.

You can compare specific local options using the official Medicare Plan Finder.

Who is cancelling Medicare Advantage plans?

Major health insurers including Humana, UnitedHealthcare, CVS Health's Aetna, and Centene are cutting or canceling Medicare Advantage plans for the 2027 plan year.

Major Insurers Scaling Back

  • Humana: Dropping plans affecting roughly 600,000 members and pulling out of select counties.
  • UnitedHealthcare: Shutting down plans affecting about 390,000 people and exiting specific regional markets.
  • Centene & Molina Healthcare: Centene is significantly reducing individual offerings, while Molina is dropping standard individual Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage.
  • Regional/System Insurers: Smaller regional providers and health-system-owned plans (such as Christus Health Plan, Providence Health Plan, and Presbyterian Health Plan) are exiting markets entirely or shutting down operations.

Why Plans Are Being Canceled

  • Rising Costs: Insurers cite medical and drug costs outpacing federal reimbursement rates.
  • Profit Margins: Companies are adjusting portfolios to focus on higher-performing markets.
  • Impact: Over 1 million older Americans face plan changes or terminations heading into 2027.