Medicare Advantage Plans Leaving in 2027: What to Do If Your Plan Is Ending
Is your Medicare Advantage plan ending in 2027? Humana exits hit ~600,000 members, Florida loses 51 plans. Your enrollment rights, Medigap guarantee and deadlines.
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If you’re one of the roughly 34 million people in a Medicare Advantage plan, check your mail carefully this month. Insurers are cutting plans and leaving counties for 2027. Plans that are ending must send non-renewal notices dated October 2, before Medicare open enrollment begins on October 15.
- Humana says its targeted exits will affect about 600,000 members, roughly 8% of its Medicare Advantage enrollment.
- The average beneficiary will have 28 Medicare Advantage drug plans to choose from in 2027, down from 32 in 2026 and 36 in 2024, according to KFF.
- Florida will have 51 fewer Medicare Advantage plans than in 2026, according to CMS data. Ohio loses 32 and Illinois 21.
If your plan is ending, you have special rights, including a guaranteed chance to buy Medigap coverage. Here’s what’s changing, what your options are, and the deadlines that matter.
This site is independent and not affiliated with Medicare, CMS or any insurer.
Medicare Advantage in 2027 at a glance
| 2026 | 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans nationally | 5,553 | 5,532 |
| MA drug plans for the average beneficiary (KFF) | 32 | 28 |
| Average MA premium, CMS projection | $14.37/month | $12.00/month |
| Open enrollment | Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026 |
Sources: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape fact sheets, September 28, 2026; KFF, 2026.
The average premium is falling, but that doesn’t mean costs are. An analysis of 2027 plan data reported by Healthcare Dive found maximum out-of-pocket limits up about 10% on average and Part D drug deductibles up about 30% in Medicare Advantage plans. Many plans are also trimming extra benefits such as dental, vision and over-the-counter allowances.
Which insurers are pulling back?
Humana confirmed on its July 29 earnings call that its 2027 strategy includes “targeted exits” affecting about 600,000 members. It hasn’t published a full list of affected plans, so the only reliable way to know is your notice.
Other insurers are leaving counties, according to the analysis of CMS data reported by Healthcare Dive:
| Insurer | Counties exited for 2027 |
|---|---|
| Centene (Wellcare) | 344 |
| CVS Health (Aetna) | 103 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 63 |
| Elevance (Anthem) | 56 |
Not everyone is shrinking. Devoted Health is expanding into 336 new counties, and Humana is adding 39 counties even as it drops plans elsewhere.
Why the pullback? Insurers say higher medical use, slower growth in federal payments and tighter rules on coding and prior authorization have squeezed Medicare Advantage profits. They’re cutting less-profitable plans and benefits to protect margins.
Which states are losing the most plans?
From CMS’s state-by-state fact sheets:
| State | 2026 plans | 2027 plans | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 611 | 560 | −51 |
| Ohio | 212 | 180 | −32 |
| Illinois | 157 | 136 | −21 |
| Maryland | 63 | 47 | −16 |
| Minnesota | 68 | 53 | −15 |
| New Jersey | 85 | 72 | −13 |
| New Mexico | 73 | 61 | −12 |
| Michigan | 192 | 181 | −11 |
| Tennessee | 132 | 155 | +23 |
| Missouri | 157 | 174 | +17 |
| Alabama | 98 | 113 | +15 |
| Arizona | 133 | 148 | +15 |
Plan counts are statewide. What matters is what’s available in your county, which you can check in the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov.
Is your plan ending? How to tell
Every Medicare Advantage member should have received one of two letters:
- An Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), sent by September 30. Your plan is continuing, but its costs, benefits, network or drug list may change on January 1.
- A non-renewal notice, dated October 2. Your plan is ending on December 31, 2026, or leaving your county.
Also watch for network changes. A plan can continue while your doctors or hospital leave its network. Some health systems have dropped Medicare Advantage contracts with certain insurers.
Your plan is ending: your options and rights
Option 1: Choose another Medicare Advantage plan
During open enrollment (October 15 – December 7), choose any Medicare Advantage plan in your area. Coverage starts January 1, 2027, so there’s no gap.
Because your plan is ending, you also get a special enrollment period through the last day of February 2027. Don’t wait that long, though. If you choose after December 31, your new coverage starts the month after you enroll, and you’ll be in Original Medicare without drug coverage in between.
Option 2: Switch to Original Medicare plus Medigap and Part D
Losing your plan is one of the few times you can buy a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy without medical underwriting. When a Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or ends, you have a guaranteed-issue right, which means insurers can’t refuse you or charge more because of your health.
- The right generally lasts until 63 days after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends, and you can usually apply as early as 60 days before.
- It covers certain standard Medigap plans. Ask insurers which plans they must offer you under this right.
- You’ll also need a stand-alone Part D drug plan.
Outside guaranteed-issue situations, Medigap insurers in most states can turn you down or charge more based on your health. This is a valuable window.
Option 3: Do nothing (not recommended)
If you don’t choose, you’ll be moved to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027, without drug coverage. If you go 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage, you may owe a permanent Part D late enrollment penalty when you do join a drug plan.
Medicare Advantage vs Original Medicare + Medigap
If your plan is ending, now is a good time to reconsider the whole approach, not only which Medicare Advantage plan to pick.
| Medicare Advantage | Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Often low or $0 premium, plus Part B | Part B + Medigap premium (often $100–$300+) + Part D |
| Out-of-pocket risk | Copays up to an annual maximum, which can be several thousand dollars | Very low with comprehensive Medigap plans |
| Doctors | Network, often HMO; referrals may be required | Any provider nationwide that accepts Medicare |
| Prior authorization | Common for many services | Rarely required |
| Extra benefits | Often dental, vision, hearing and gym | Usually not included |
| Plan stability | Plans and networks can change every year | Medigap coverage is guaranteed renewable |
Who often prefers Medicare Advantage: people who are healthy, want low premiums, and are happy using a local network.
Who often prefers Medigap: people with ongoing health conditions, those who travel or split time between states, and anyone who wants predictable costs and freedom to see any doctor. Because Medigap usually requires health questions outside guaranteed-issue windows, losing your Medicare Advantage plan may be your best chance to switch.
Comparing plans: what to check
Photo: Rhoda Baer / National Cancer Institute, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Doctors and hospitals. Confirm each provider is in the plan’s network for 2027, not just 2026. Call the doctor’s office as well as checking the directory.
- Your prescriptions. Enter every drug and dose in the Medicare Plan Finder. Check tiers, prior authorization and the drug deductible, which many plans are raising.
- Total yearly cost. Add premium, deductibles, copays and the maximum out-of-pocket limit. A $0 premium plan can cost more overall.
- Star ratings. CMS releases 2027 star ratings on Medicare.gov around October 8, 2026. Higher-rated plans tend to do better on service and care quality.
- Extra benefits. Dental, vision, hearing and over-the-counter allowances are being trimmed in many plans. See our guide to dental insurance for seniors on Medicare.
- Travel. HMO plans usually cover only emergencies outside your area. If you spend winters away, compare PPO plans or Original Medicare with Medigap.
Free, unbiased help
- Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov, updated for 2027 since October 1
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day
- Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which offers free, one-on-one counseling with no sales pitch
Be cautious with unsolicited calls and TV ads. Agents can be helpful, but some are paid more to sell certain plans. Never give your Medicare number to someone who calls you out of the blue.
Watch the other 2027 Medicare changes
Your Medicare Advantage choice isn’t the only cost change next year:
- Part B premium: projected to rise to about $209.50 a month, with the official figure due from CMS in the fall. See Medicare changes for 2027.
- Social Security COLA: announced October 14. See the 2027 COLA and Medicare for how the Part B increase will eat into it.
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: the annual cap on drug costs continues, adjusted for 2027.
- Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help can pay premiums and drug costs for people with limited income. CMS says only about half of eligible people are enrolled.
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Sept. 30, 2026 | Annual Notice of Change deadline |
| Oct. 1, 2026 | 2027 plans appear in Medicare Plan Finder |
| Oct. 2, 2026 | Non-renewal notices dated |
| ≈ Oct. 8, 2026 | 2027 star ratings posted |
| Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026 | Medicare open enrollment |
| Jan. 1, 2027 | New coverage begins |
| Jan. 1 – Mar. 31, 2027 | Medicare Advantage open enrollment (one switch) |
| Feb. 28, 2027 | Special enrollment period ends for non-renewed plans |
| ≈ Mar. 4, 2027 | Medigap guaranteed-issue right ends (63 days after a Dec. 31 end date) |
Sources and notes
- CMS, “Medicare Open Enrollment” state fact sheets, September 28, 2026: state plan counts for 2026 and 2027, average premiums, key dates.
- CMS 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape release: 5,532 plans nationally; average premium of $12.00, down from $14.37 (as reported by AJMC and Healthcare Dive).
- KFF, “The Average Medicare Beneficiary has 28 Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan Options for 2027,” 2026.
- Healthcare Dive, “Here’s how much insurers are cutting Medicare Advantage plans for 2027,” September 29, 2026: county exits, out-of-pocket and deductible changes.
- Insurance Business: Humana’s 2027 exits affecting about 600,000 members, disclosed on its July 29, 2026 earnings call.
- Medicare.gov: special enrollment periods, Medigap guaranteed-issue rights and the Part D late enrollment penalty.
- Featured photo: Jeff Sheldon / Unsplash, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
This article is general information, not personal Medicare advice. For help comparing your options, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or 1-800-MEDICARE.
