UnitedHealthcare and Humana are eliminating Medicare Advantage plans that will force more than 1.1 million Americans to find replacement coverage for 2027, leaving older adults and people with disabilities facing difficult healthcare decisions as the December 7 enrollment deadline approaches.
The Medicare Advantage cuts could leave affected members with higher medical bills, fewer choices of doctors, reduced benefits, and unexpected prescription costs. For people living on fixed incomes or managing serious medical conditions, switching insurance plans could create financial strain and disrupt established relationships with healthcare providers.
According to an October 19 analysis by Vlada Research, approximately 600,621 Humana members and 510,757 UnitedHealth Group members are enrolled in plans that will not have an available successor in their counties next year. That brings the combined total to more than 1.11 million people.
The figure exceeds earlier estimates reported by Fortune, which cited company disclosures identifying approximately 390,000 affected UnitedHealthcare members and 600,000 Humana members. The figures come from different reporting methods, with Vlada analyzing federal enrollment records and plan availability by county.
The Medicare Advantage cuts are part of a much larger nationwide insurance shakeup. Vlada Research estimates that more than 3.15 million Medicare Advantage members across multiple insurance companies will need to select new plans for 2027.
Financial pressure is driving many of these decisions. According to Fortune’s reporting, insurers have struggled with rising healthcare expenses and increased medical service usage. Rather than continuing certain less profitable plans, companies are eliminating coverage options and restructuring benefits to control spending.
Humana Chief Financial Officer Celeste Mellet previously told investors that the company hoped to “recapture a significant portion” of members affected by its plan exits. She described the cancellations as a “targeted” strategy focused on plans generating weaker financial returns.
For affected seniors, however, the financial consequences could be significant.
Many discontinued plans are Preferred Provider Organizations, commonly known as PPOs. These plans generally offer greater flexibility when choosing doctors, specialists, and hospitals, including some coverage for medical providers outside an insurer’s network.
UnitedHealthcare has increasingly focused on Health Maintenance Organization plans, or HMOs, and Special Needs Plans, according to Fortune. HMOs typically require patients to use a more restricted network of providers and may require referrals for certain specialty services.
That means someone who has visited the same cardiologist, cancer specialist, or primary care doctor for years could discover that their preferred provider is no longer covered under a replacement plan. Continuing treatment outside the new network could also become more expensive.
The financial impact may extend beyond doctor visits.
According to an October analysis by KFF, the average Medicare beneficiary will have 28 Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage available in 2027, down from 32 in 2026. Availability varies significantly depending on where a person lives.
Insurers are also modifying benefits that older Americans frequently depend on, including dental care and other supplemental services. Fortune reported that an analysis by Leerink Partners found several major insurers reducing dental allowances and increasing the amounts members must contribute toward their healthcare costs.
Prescription drug expenses present another concern, particularly for retirees who depend on multiple medications.
A separate KFF analysis found that approximately four million people with standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans who paid no monthly premium in 2026 will face premiums in 2027 unless they qualify for low-income assistance. These standalone plans are separate from Medicare Advantage coverage, but the changes add to the financial pressure facing Medicare beneficiaries.
Despite the reductions, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has projected that average Medicare Advantage premiums will decrease by 16.5% in 2027.
Lower average premiums, however, do not guarantee lower total healthcare expenses. Members could still face higher deductibles, increased copayments, reduced supplemental benefits, or narrower doctor networks, depending on which replacement plan they select.
The timing makes the Medicare Advantage cuts especially urgent.
According to Medicare’s official enrollment guidelines, open enrollment began October 15 and runs through December 7, 2026. Coverage changes made during this period generally take effect January 1, 2027.
Members whose plans are being discontinued should not assume their existing coverage will automatically transfer to another Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare explains that beneficiaries whose Medicare Advantage plans are not renewed and who fail to select another plan will generally return to Original Medicare when their current coverage ends. That does not mean they lose Medicare entirely, but Original Medicare does not automatically replace every benefit offered by their former private plan.
Prescription drug coverage, dental benefits, and protection against certain out-of-pocket expenses may require additional insurance.
Under Medicare’s Special Enrollment Period rules, members affected by a plan nonrenewal generally have an additional opportunity to switch plans between December 8 and the last day of February. However, waiting until after coverage ends could leave beneficiaries facing changes in their coverage or additional expenses at the beginning of the year.
Individuals returning to Original Medicare may also qualify for special rights to purchase Medicare Supplement Insurance, commonly called Medigap, which can help cover certain out-of-pocket medical expenses.
For families helping aging parents navigate insurance decisions, reviewing the insurer’s cancellation notice is a critical first step. Beneficiaries should confirm that their doctors and hospitals participate in any new plan, verify prescription drug coverage, compare annual out-of-pocket limits, and examine changes to dental, vision, and other benefits.
Medicare beneficiaries can compare available 2027 plans through Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact their State Health Insurance Assistance Program for free counseling.
