Millions lose private Medicare plans and face rising costs

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Millions Lose Private Medicare Plans Amid Shrinking Options

   Older Americans across the United States face higher healthcare expenses and fewer choices as private insurers scale back or cancel Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans for 2027. Major health companies are discontinuing coverage in numerous areas due to low profitability, forcing millions of enrollees to select new insurance during the annual open enrollment period. Seniors in states like Florida and New Hampshire are confronting broader plan reductions, alongside increased out-of-pocket costs for medical care and prescription drugs.

   Why it matters

   The reductions in private Medicare coverage arrive as older adults grapple with broader cost-of-living pressures and potential adjustments to fixed incomes. Insurers such as CVS Health, WellSense, and UPMC are altering or terminating specific regional offerings, creating widespread confusion among policyholders. Medicare Advantage plan availability varies significantly by county, leaving rural and less profitable regions with the steepest cuts.

   What is confirmed

   • Millions of people with private Medicare coverage are being forced to change their insurance for 2027 and will pay higher prices.
   • Major insurers including UnitedHealth, Centene, and various Blue Cross plans are cutting back offerings in unprofitable markets.
   • Florida seniors with Medicare and Medicare Advantage face higher healthcare costs and sweeping prescription drug plan changes in 2027.
   • CVS Health and WellSense are reducing their Medicare Advantage offerings in New Hampshire.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Suze Orman warned 390,000 people that their Medicare plans are shutting down.
   • Social Security's 2027 cost-of-living adjustment could reach 3.5% to 3.6%, adding about $73 to $75 to monthly retirement benefits.
   • Up to 12 million Americans lost health coverage during Trump's second term according to independent healthcare analyst Charles Gaba.

   What to watch next

   • Official announcement of the Social Security COLA figures.
   • The progression of the Medicare open enrollment period as enrollees transition to new plans.
   • Additional county-level data regarding Medicare Advantage plan availability for 2027.
   Sources used for this update (17)

   1. www.texastribune.org — What candidates are proposing to make Texas more affordable
   2. The New York Times — Private Medicare Plans Are Raising Costs And Forcing Millions To Find New Insurance
   3. The Seattle Times — Millions lose private Medicare plans and face rising costs
   4. KFF — Medicare Advantage Plan Availability Varies Widely by County for 2027
   5. WJAC — Cambria County commissioner warns of confusion as UPMC ends Medicare drug plans
   6. Concord Monitor — Medicare Advantage shrinks in N.H. as CVS Health and WellSense reduce offerings
   7. Yahoo Finance — Suze Orman Warned 390,000 People Their Medicare Plans Are Shutting Down, Then CNBC Called the Same Stock a Turnaround
   8. MarketWatch — Millions of Americans will have fewer options during Medicare open enrollment this year
   9. www.commondreams.org — Up to 12 Million Americans Have Lost Health Coverage During Trump’s Second Term: Analysis | Common Drea....
   10. baltimorepositive.com — Big money, an election and a County that needs to function and thrive
   11. www.sun-sentinel.com — Seniors will pay more for Medicare in 2027; big changes coming across all plans
   12. beinsure.com — Social Security inflation impact on seniors: 2027 COLA forecast
   confidence 95%