Insurers Trim Medicare Advantage Plans, Disrupting Coverage for 1 Million Seniors
WHO:
PBS - Dan Weissmann, creator and host of the health care podcast “An Arm and a Leg,” discussed Medicare Advantage changes with PBS’s Geoff Bennett.
PBS - Medicare Advantage is a private insurance option chosen by more than 30 million Americans as an alternative to traditional Medicare.
PBS - Seniors interviewed included Susan Hayse, who had been in Medicare Advantage for four years; Bob Heffernan, a Vermont beneficiary; and Diane Payne, a Medicare Advantage customer diagnosed with breast cancer.
CBS News US - Two of the largest private insurers are discontinuing some Medicare Advantage plans.
WHAT:
NPR - At least 2 million people will be affected by Medicare Advantage plan closures, according to an analysis of insurer announcements by the *An Arm and a Leg* podcast; other preliminary estimates range from 3.2 million to 5 million.
NPR - About 35 million people are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, and more than half of the 70 million Americans enrolled in Medicare choose it.
NPR - Medicare Advantage plans will be unavailable in 193 counties, mostly rural, up from about 120 counties the previous year, according to KFF analysis of federal data.
NPR - Dallas, Minneapolis, Seattle, Houston, and Portland will have between 25 and 33 percent fewer Medicare Advantage plans.
NPR - Last year, 2.9 million seniors were enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans that closed, according to research published in JAMA.
NPR - Medicare Advantage plans often include Part D prescription drug coverage.
CBS News US - Insurers’ plan cuts affect 1 million seniors, according to the article’s headline.
CBS News US - The insurers cited higher costs and a spike in utilization as reasons for discontinuing plans.
PBS - Insurers in some areas are withdrawing from markets or eliminating plans, leaving seniors to reassess coverage.
PBS - Heffernan said two Medicare Advantage plans he had used withdrew; he switched to original Medicare and said the insurers had left Vermont.
PBS - Hayse said some plan terms changed from fixed dollar amounts, such as $50, to 50 percent.
PBS - Payne said dental and vision costs and out-of-pocket expenses were increasing, and she was checking whether she could continue seeing her oncologist.
PBS - KFF reported that employer-sponsored family health insurance premiums rose 9 percent, with average annual costs exceeding $7,000 for workers.
PBS - Weissmann said traditional Medicare generally covers 80 percent of many bills, leaving beneficiaries responsible for 20 percent; it has no out-of-pocket maximum. A supplemental or Medigap plan can fill that gap.
PBS - Weissmann said traditional Medicare does not cover vision, dental, or hearing care; Medicare Advantage plans may bundle those benefits and limit beneficiaries’ costs.
PBS - Weissmann said Medicare costs most people about $200 a month in premiums paid to the federal government. Some Medicare Advantage plans cover that premium.
PBS - Weissmann said Medicare Advantage insurers may restrict care through provider networks and coverage decisions.
WHERE:
PBS - Heffernan said the plans he used had left Vermont.
PBS - Weissmann said every state has a federally funded State Health Insurance Assistance Program, known as SHIP, to help people understand Medicare choices.
WHEN:
PBS - Weissmann advised seniors to review insurer notices promptly, contact Medicare or SHIP, and act quickly because some plans have enrollment caps.
PBS - Weissmann said switching from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare may make it difficult to obtain a Medigap policy, particularly after initial Medicare enrollment.
WHY:
PBS - Weissmann said insurers are private companies accountable to shareholders and may stop offering plans they consider insufficiently profitable or change terms to their advantage.
CBS News US - The insurers attributed plan discontinuations to higher costs and increased utilization.
HOW:
NPR - If a closing-plan enrollee does not choose another plan, the insurer may assign them to another Medicare Advantage plan, or the government may enroll them in traditional Medicare without supplemental or drug coverage.
NPR - People whose Medicare Advantage plans are ending can enroll in Medigap without the usual restrictions, including those with pre-existing conditions that previously prevented enrollment.
NPR - Insurers must fill capped plans on a first-come, first-served basis and may not select enrollees based on health conditions, age, or demographics.
NPR - NPR advises checking plan status through Medicare.gov, using the SHIP directory at shiphelp.org, and verifying doctor and drug coverage because Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder listings can be inaccurate.
(UPDATED October 24, 2026 16:03 UTC)
Major insurers are cutting Medicare Advantage coverage, leaving millions of seniors to reconsider their health plans. An analysis estimates at least 2 million people will be affected, while other preliminary estimates range as high as 5 million. About 35 million Americans are enrolled in these private plans, which often bundle prescription drug, dental, or vision benefits. The plans will disappear in 193 counties, mostly rural, and several major cities will have fewer options. Insurers cite rising costs and increased use of care; some beneficiaries also report higher out-of-pocket expenses and changes to coverage. People in plans that are ending should review their notices promptly and check that doctors and medications remain covered. If they do not choose a replacement, they could be assigned another plan or moved to traditional Medicare without supplemental or drug coverage.
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(UPDATED October 24, 2026 13:07 UTC)
Two of the largest private insurers are dropping some Medicare Advantage plans, affecting about 1 million seniors, as companies cite higher costs and increased use of care. More than 30 million Americans choose these private plans instead of traditional Medicare, and withdrawals in some areas are forcing people to reconsider their coverage. Vermont beneficiary Bob Heffernan says two plans he used disappeared, so he switched to original Medicare. Other changes include higher out-of-pocket costs and benefits shifting from set charges to paying a percentage. Medicare Advantage may include dental and vision care and cap costs, but insurers can limit care through networks and coverage decisions. Traditional Medicare generally pays 80 percent of many bills, leaving beneficiaries responsible for the rest, without an out-of-pocket maximum. Health care podcast host Dan Weissmann urges seniors to review notices promptly and contact Medicare or their state’s SHIP counseling program.