UnitedHealthcare and Humana plan changes will affect nearly one million Medicare Advantage members in 2027, putting plan options in focus as eligible people prepare to choose coverage for next year.
A UnitedHealthcare spokesperson told The Independent that plan closures will affect about 390,000 members. Humana plan cuts will affect about 600,000, Chief Financial Officer Celeste Mellet said during a July earnings call. Together, the figures amount to about 990,000 members. The Independent said Healthcare Brew first reported the combined closures.
A UnitedHealthcare spokesperson told The Independent that most members facing closures could choose another Medicare Advantage plan from the company. The spokesperson said company representatives would guide members as they compared available coverage. Mellet told investors Humana would work to “recapture a significant portion” of the affected group.
The Independent identified UnitedHealthcare and Humana as the top two Medicare Advantage providers by enrollment. These privately offered plans can include dental, vision and hearing benefits unavailable in original Medicare, and often have low or zero premiums. The outlet also said the plans can weigh on insurers’ profits, but did not link that pressure to either company’s 2027 changes. The reported counts refer to members in plans being cut; they do not establish how many will lose all health coverage.
KFF, a health policy organization, found in a June poll that 62% of U.S. adults had some degree of concern about paying for health care for themselves and their families. The Independent placed the finding amid wider anxiety over health costs and affordability among Americans.
Medicare open enrollment for 2027 began Oct. 15. Eligible people can enroll in original Medicare or choose a Medicare Advantage plan. They can also enroll in or leave a separate prescription drug plan. The period gives members affected by plan closures a chance to review alternatives before the Dec. 7 deadline.
