Is your Medicare Advantage plan ending next year? Here's what to know
Major health insurance providers are canceling Medicare Advantage plans, leaving millions of seniors scrambling to secure new healthcare coverage. Up to 2.4 million seniors could lose their plans nationwide, while specific market cancellations by Humana and UnitedHealthcare impact nearly 1 million people. These industry-wide reductions have created an incredibly complex landscape for beneficiaries attempting to find alternative options before upcoming deadlines. Medicare open enrollment runs through December 7, forcing affected policyholders to actively log on and select new coverage to avoid gaps in their medical benefits next year.
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- ✓ Humana and UnitedHealthcare are ending Medicare Advantage plans for nearly 1 million people.
- ✓ About 390,000 UnitedHealth Group members and about 600,000 Humana members will lose coverage, mostly from Preferred Provider Organizations plans.
- ✓ Medicare open enrollment runs through Dec. 7.
What changed
Major insurers including Humana and UnitedHealthcare announced the cancellation of Medicare Advantage plans affecting nearly 1 million specific policyholders.
Live updates
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Medicare Advantage Cuts Threaten Plans for Millions
Major health insurance providers are canceling Medicare Advantage plans, leaving millions of seniors scrambling to secure new healthcare coverage. Up to 2.4 million seniors could lose their plans nationwide, while specific market cancellations by Humana and UnitedHealthcare impact nearly 1 million people. These industry-wide reductions have created an incredibly complex landscape for beneficiaries attempting to find alternative options before upcoming deadlines. Medicare open enrollment runs through December 7, forcing affected policyholders to actively log on and select new coverage to avoid gaps in their medical benefits next year.
Why it matters
The reductions hit regional markets unevenly, leaving certain counties and states facing some of the largest insurance shake-ups in the nation. Insurers are discontinuing specific policies, predominantly Preferred Provider Organization plans, forcing older Americans to re-evaluate their healthcare arrangements. Navigating the complex system during the limited enrollment window presents significant hurdles for seniors trying to maintain their medical coverage.
What is confirmed
- Humana and UnitedHealthcare are ending Medicare Advantage plans for nearly 1 million people.
- About 390,000 UnitedHealth Group members and about 600,000 Humana members will lose coverage, mostly from Preferred Provider Organizations plans.
- Medicare open enrollment runs through Dec. 7.
Still unconfirmed
- As many as 5 million seniors will need to pick a new plan during open enrollment.
What to watch next
- The conclusion of the Medicare open enrollment period on December 7.
- Further announcements from insurers regarding additional plan cancellations or geographic pullbacks.
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (18)
- Cleveland.com — 2 major health insurance companies cancel Medicare Advantage plans covering 1 million people
- CBS News — Humana, UnitedHealthcare ending Medicare Advantage plans for 1 million seniors, insurers say
- PBS — Medicare Advantage cuts leave millions scrambling to find coverage
- Star Tribune — Why Minnesota seniors face the nation’s biggest health insurance shake-up
- Brainerd Dispatch — Medicare options shrink for Crow Wing, Wadena counties in 2027
- NPR — Is your Medicare Advantage plan ending next year? Here's what to know
- KETV — What Iowans losing their Medicare Advantage plans need to know
- Star Tribune — Minnesota seniors navigating ‘incredibly complex’ system for Medicare Advantage
- LAist — Medicare Advantage
- Yahoo — In the US, Medicare Advantage ads are back, but 2.4 million seniors could lose their plans
- kffhealthnews.org — Humana, UnitedHealthcare Discontinue Medicare Advantage Plans For Nearly 1M People - KFF Health News
- www.newsbreak.com — Cathie Wood Predicts Oil Crashing to $30-$35 a Barrel as EVs Take Over Transportation: Says Demand Is 'Peaking’
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