US EditionUnitedHealth to exit Medicare Advantage plans in 109 US counties
UnitedHealth, CVS Health, and Humana are reducing Medicare Advantage plans due to lower government payments and higher medical usage, affecting over 600,000 members.
- On Wednesday, major health insurers such as UnitedHealth, Humana, and CVS Health revealed plans to scale back the availability of Medicare Advantage plans in various states and counties starting next year.
- The insurers cited ongoing U.S. government payment cuts since 2024, aimed at reducing spending, combined with higher-than-expected medical service use and rising healthcare costs as reasons for shrinking their market presence.
- UnitedHealth plans to exit 109 counties affecting about 180,000 people, Humana will cut plans from 48 states to 46 states and reduce availability from 89% to 85% of counties, while Aetna will serve 43 states and 2,159 counties, down from 44 states and 2,259 counties.
- During a Tuesday briefing, Bobby Hunter of UnitedHealth emphasized that reductions in funding combined with escalating healthcare expenses and greater demand have posed significant challenges that no insurer can overlook.
- These reductions signify insurers’ strategic exit from less profitable markets and reflect broader financial pressures within Medicare Advantage amid decreasing government reimbursements and increased patient care demands.
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Major health insurers scaling back Medicare Advantage offerings in 2026
Leading health insurers announced Wednesday that they will scale back their Medicare Advantage offerings next year as the health insurance industry braces for decreases in government reimbursement.The U.S. government has been cutting back payments on Medicare Advantage since 2024 to reduce spending. Medicare Advantage is a privately-run insurance program that serves people aged 65 and above as well as those with disabilities.CVS Health's Aetna i…
U.S. health insurers reduce Medicare Advantage operations in 2026
CVS Health, Humana and UnitedHealth Group will pull back on Medicare Advantage offerings next year, the companies said today, as the health insurance industry braces for more decreases in government reimbursement.
UnitedHealth to exit Medicare Advantage plans in 109 US counties
UnitedHealth said it will stop offering Medicare Advantage plans in 109 U.S. counties in 2026, impacting 180,000 members, as the company balances higher costs with reimbursement pressure in the insurance program.
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