NowWire · AI-assisted reporting summary · October 3, 2026 UTC
Major health insurers including UnitedHealth Group and Humana are discontinuing various Medicare Advantage plans ahead of the 2027 enrollment year, according to reporting cited by Bloomberg and Reuters. The cuts will affect more than one million seniors, with UnitedHealth dropping plans impacting roughly 390,000 members and Humana reducing coverage for about 600,000 enrollees. Wall Street analysts reviewing government data note that CVS Health's Aetna and Centene are also scaling back their footprints. [1]
UnitedHealthcare will send non-renewal notices to affected members starting October 2. Impacted individuals can enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan between October 15 and December 31 for coverage beginning January 1, 2027, or automatically revert to original Medicare. Those returning to original Medicare receive a special election period through February 28, 2027, to select a new plan. Insurers attribute the market retreats to funding pressures, rising medical and drug costs, and increased utilization. [1]
Sources
- UnitedHealth and Humana cutting Medicare Advantage plans in 2027 — 2026-10-02T17:26:01Z
