UnitedHealthcare Will End Roughly 13% of Medicare Advantage Plans in 18 States for 2027

Many older adults use Medicare Advantage to lower retirement costs while still getting the care they need, but some plans are slated to disappear in 2027. Roughly one million enrollees could need to choose new coverage after major insurers said they are dropping certain Medicare Advantage offerings. About 390,000 UnitedHealth members are affected, along with about 600,000 Humana enrollees. The changes could create significant disruption for many seniors.

Here’s a closer look at why the plans are being cut, who is impacted, and what affected members may need to do if their coverage is no longer available in 2027.

UnitedHealthcare pulls back on Medicare Advantage

According to a Leerink note cited by Axios, UnitedHealthcare has cut about 13% of its Medicare Advantage plans across 18 states. Many of the plans being dropped are preferred provider organization, or PPO, plans, which let members seek care outside the network but cost insurers more to run.

“We can’t ignore the realities facing the healthcare system,” UnitedHealthcare President Bobby Hunter said, according to Reuters. “Funding pressures, rising medical costs, rising drug costs, and increased utilization are affecting every part of healthcare.”

More insurers are also scaling back

The UnitedHealthcare move comes as Humana has announced cuts affecting about 600,000 enrollees. In 2026, Humana covered 85% of U.S. counties, but in 2027 that reach is expected to shrink to just over 80%.

Other insurers are adjusting their offerings as well. Aetna is expanding its health maintenance organization, or HMO, plans, which usually require members to use a lower-cost network. Presbyterian Health is leaving most Medicare Advantage markets, and Molina Healthcare has eliminated standard individual Medicare Advantage plans.

Why members are feeling the impact

People in some areas are being hit harder than others. Because Medicare Advantage depends heavily on local hospital and doctor networks, insurers are increasingly trimming plans in counties with higher medical costs and lower federal reimbursements. Rural communities are often among the hardest affected.

Benefits are also being reduced in some plans, which can lower their value for enrollees. In some cases, insurers are eliminating giveback benefits that help cover part of a member’s Medicare Part B premium. Others are reducing dental coverage, increasing specialist copays, and changing how out-of-pocket drug costs are structured.

What affected members should do

UnitedHealthcare says it will send non-renewal notices to affected members. Depending on where they live, some people may still have access to other UnitedHealthcare plans in 2027.

Those whose plans are discontinued can enroll in another Medicare Advantage plan, but they must do so during the fall enrollment window for a January 1, 2027 effective date. The annual open enrollment period ends earlier, but affected UnitedHealthcare members have until the end of December to make a switch.

Returning to Original Medicare

If a member does not choose another plan, they will automatically move back to Original Medicare at the start of 2027. If their Medicare Advantage plan included drug coverage, that coverage will also end.

People who return to Original Medicare get a special election period that allows them to sign up for another Medicare Advantage plan through the end of February 2027. However, if a doctor leaves a network later in the year, that alone does not create a special enrollment period, so it is important to review networks before the annual deadline and confirm that a plan includes your doctors.

How Medigap rights could help

Some affected seniors may decide to move back to Original Medicare and add Medigap. Medigap policies help pay the cost-sharing gaps in Original Medicare. Outside a guaranteed-issue window, getting Medigap can be difficult because insurers may deny coverage, charge more based on health history, or impose a waiting period for pre-existing conditions.

Guaranteed-issue protections prevent insurers from rejecting applications, adding waiting periods, or charging higher premiums. Seniors affected by these plan discontinuations may qualify. If a Medicare Advantage plan stops serving a person’s area or no longer offers coverage where they live, that person may have a guaranteed right to buy Medigap Plans A, B, C, F, K, or L.

Bottom line

UnitedHealthcare’s cutback is part of a broader shift across the health insurance industry. As more insurers reduce or end plans, seniors may face fewer choices and more searching for coverage that fits their needs.

Even if your Medicare Advantage plan is not being discontinued, it is still wise to compare plans and prices. Because annual enrollment closes in early December, it is best to start reviewing options well before the deadline so you can choose the plan that works best for you.

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