UnitedHealthcare and Humana End Medicare Plans for 2027

UnitedHealthcare and Humana are ending Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, requiring hundreds of thousands of members to find replacement coverage or return to Original Medicare. Company-linked figures put the number in plans being discontinued at about 990,000, while a separate county-level analysis estimates that more than 1.11 million people will lack a successor plan where they live. UnitedHealth Group representatives said about 390,000 UnitedHealthcare members are in plans that will end, and Humana Chief Financial Officer Celeste Mellet said about 600,000 Humana members are affected. The figures are estimates tied to company statements. The higher estimate, from an October 19 analysis by Vlada Research using federal enrollment records and county plan availability, counts 510,757 UnitedHealth Group members and 600,621 Humana members without a successor plan in their counties. The measures differ in scope, and the reports do not explain the gap between them. The changes are scheduled to take effect at the end of 2026. Medicare’s annual open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026, and selections generally take effect January 1. Members can...