Major Medicare Advantage Carriers Scale Back Coverage for 2026, Creating Market Shifts

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released data showing that the three largest Medicare Advantage (MA) carriers—UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Aetna—are reducing their service areas in 2026 to focus on profitability. UnitedHealthcare is exiting one state and 108 counties, Humana three states and 194 counties, and Aetna one state and 98 counties.

This retrenchment creates opportunities for smaller regional carriers but may cause confusion for seniors, many of whom remain unaware of potential changes to costs and benefits. While the average reported monthly premium may drop slightly to $14, weighted premiums for general enrollment plans rise by nearly 22%, with insurers also increasing deductibles and trimming certain benefits.

Other major players, including Elevance, Centene, and Kaiser, either modestly expand or maintain coverage. Overall, these shifts could affect hundreds of thousands of MA enrollees, with open enrollment running October 15–December 7, 2025, as seniors navigate a changing and increasingly complex MA landscape.

02-10-2025