Health · Healthcare & Policy · 7 hrs ago
Humana and UnitedHealthcare to end Medicare Advantage plans for about 1 million people
Humana and UnitedHealthcare will end some Medicare Advantage plans next year, affecting about 1 million members aged 65 or older.
Medicare Advantage is Medicare coverage provided through private health insurance companies.
Humana says about 600,000 members will be affected, and most will be offered another plan.
UnitedHealthcare is ending a plan for about 390,000 members, who can switch to another of its Medicare Advantage plans.
The companies say their decisions come as health care costs and plan use rise; UnitedHealthcare said these pressures affect the wider industry.
At least 2 million seniors are expected to lose plans in a broader round of cancellations, and nearly 3 million faced similar changes last year.
Members will need to consider the replacement plans available to them, though some areas may have few or no other Medicare Advantage options.
Humana and UnitedHealthcare are ending Medicare Advantage plans affecting about 1 million people aged 65 or older.
The changes are set to begin next year.
Humana said about 600,000 members will be affected, and most will be offered an alternative plan.
UnitedHealthcare said about 390,000 members will be affected and can access another UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan.
UnitedHealthcare cited higher costs and increased plan use as pressures affecting the health care industry.
- Who
- Humana and UnitedHealthcare, two large private health insurers in the United States.
- What
- They are discontinuing Medicare Advantage plans affecting about 1 million members.
- When
- Beginning next year, according to the companies.
- Where
- United States.
- Why
- UnitedHealthcare cited higher costs and increased plan use. Humana said it regularly evaluates its offerings to maintain affordable, coordinated, high-quality care.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Total affected
- About 1 million people
- Humana members affected
- Roughly 600,000
- UnitedHealthcare members affected
- Roughly 390,000
- Humana plan exits
- 2027
- UnitedHealthcare alternative
- Another UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan
2 sources
What people are saying
We regularly evaluate our Medicare offerings to ensure we can continue providing affordable, coordinated care and access to high-quality care. As previously disclosed, we anticipate plan exits for 2027 will impact approximately 600,000 members,