Your Medicare Advantage Plan Is Ending for 2027: What Should You Do Next?

CBS News reported on October 23, 2026, citing statements from Humana and UnitedHealthcare, that their 2027 Medicare Advantage plan exits could affect nearly one million members combined. These reported figures describe carrier plan exits, not the options available to every individual member.

According to the CBS News report:

Humana expects its 2027 Medicare Advantage plan exits to affect approximately 600,000 members.

UnitedHealthcare confirmed a Medicare Advantage plan closure affecting approximately 390,000 members.

CBS reported that the companies indicated many affected members would have another Medicare Advantage option from the same carrier. Check your official notice and the options available where you live.

That sounds reassuring.

But there is an important distinction:

Another plan from the same insurance company is still another plan.

You should review it before enrolling.

Same Insurance Company Does Not Mean Same Coverage

People naturally recognize an insurance company's name.

If someone has been with the same carrier for several years, choosing another plan from that company may feel like the easiest option.

But Medicare Advantage benefits are attached to the specific plan.

A replacement plan may have different:

• Provider networks.

• Hospital networks.

• Prescription formularies.

• Pharmacy networks.

• Premiums.

• Deductibles.

• Copayments.

• Coinsurance.

• Maximum out of pocket amounts.

• Prior authorization requirements.

• Supplemental benefits.

• That is why the carrier name alone should not make the decision.

Start With the Notice From Your Current Plan

Bring your:

Annual Notice of Change

or

Nonrenewal notice

or other official carrier communication.

Medicare says plans send an Annual Notice of Change each fall explaining changes in coverage, costs, and other plan details that take effect in January.

If the plan is ending, your carrier notice should explain what is happening and what actions may be available.

Do not throw it away.

Document 1: Your Carrier Notice

Look for:

• Your current plan name.

• Plan identification information.

• The date coverage changes or ends.

• Any replacement information.

• Enrollment instructions.

• Important deadlines.

• Keep the entire notice.

Document 2: Your Medication List

Do not simply say:

“I take a blood pressure pill.”

Write down:

• Medication name.

• Dosage.

• How often you take it.

• Quantity.

• Preferred pharmacy.

Then compare each medication with the actual 2027 plan formulary.

Ask:

Is the drug covered?

What tier is it?

Is there prior authorization?

Step therapy?

Quantity limits?

What will it cost at my pharmacy?

Medicare Plan Finder allows beneficiaries to add their medications when comparing plans.

Document 3: Your Provider List

Write down the healthcare providers you want to continue using.

Include:

• Primary care physician.

• Cardiologist.

• Oncologist.

• Endocrinologist.

• Other specialists.

• Hospital.

• Outpatient facilities.

• Other important providers.

• Then verify each provider against the specific replacement plan.

Do not ask only:

“Does my doctor accept UnitedHealthcare?”

or

“Does my doctor accept Humana?”

Ask:

“Is my doctor in network with this specific 2027 plan?”

Different plans from the same carrier can use different networks.

Document 4: Your Preferred Pharmacy

Pharmacy choice can affect prescription costs.

Medicare explains that drug costs depend partly on which pharmacy a beneficiary uses.

A plan may have:

• Preferred pharmacies.

• Standard network pharmacies.

• Mail-order options.

• Different cost sharing arrangements.

• Include your pharmacy when comparing plans.

Look Beyond the Monthly Premium

A replacement plan may advertise:

$0 premium

That does not tell you what the plan could cost during the year.

Review:

• Primary care copays.

• Specialist copays.

• Hospital costs.

• Outpatient surgery.

• Imaging.

• Emergency care.

• Prescription costs.

• Maximum out of pocket.

A plan with a familiar carrier and attractive premium can still produce very different annual spending depending on how you use healthcare.

Review Prior Authorization

Do you receive services that require approval?

Do your prescriptions require authorization?

Will those requirements change under the new plan?

Do not assume existing approval rules transfer to a replacement plan.

Ask specifically.

Review Supplemental Benefits

Many Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits.

These can include:

• Dental.

• Vision.

• Hearing.

• Over the counter benefits.

• Transportation.

• Fitness.

• Other supplemental benefits.

But benefit amounts, eligibility requirements, provider networks, and usage rules may change from one plan to another.

Compare what you actually use.

Use Medicare Plan Finder

Medicare's official Plan Finder is available for 2027 coverage.

Beneficiaries can enter their ZIP code to compare available plans.

People who log into their Medicare account can also use saved prescription and pharmacy information when comparing estimated costs.

That is useful because a plan review should not focus only on premiums.

Four Things to Bring to Your Review

If your Medicare Advantage plan is ending, bring:

1. Carrier notice

ANOC, nonrenewal letter, or other official communication.

2. Medication list

Names, dosages, frequency, and quantity.

3. Provider list

Doctors, specialists, hospitals, and other important providers.

4. Preferred pharmacy

Include the exact pharmacy location when possible.

Those four items give us a much better starting point than simply asking:

“Which replacement plan does my insurance company offer?”

Do Not Assume the Alternative Plan Is Bad Either

This is equally important.

A replacement plan from Humana or UnitedHealthcare may work very well for a particular beneficiary.

Another plan from a different carrier may work better.

The point is not to avoid one company or automatically change carriers.

The point is to compare.

The right decision depends on the member's:

• Doctors.

• Medications.

• Healthcare utilization.

• Budget.

• Benefits.

• Location.

• Preferences.

Medicare Annual Enrollment Ends December 7

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs:

October 15 through December 7, 2026

Coverage changes selected during this period generally take effect January 1, 2027.

If you received a notice that your current plan is ending, use the remaining enrollment period to understand the available options.

What Dantzler Health Solutions Can Do

Dantzler Health Solutions can help beneficiaries compare Medicare plans that we represent in their service area.

Our review begins with the individual.

We want to understand:

• Which doctors matter.

• Which prescriptions matter.

• Which pharmacy you use.

• What healthcare services you expect.

• What benefits matter.

• What costs you can reasonably manage.

We do not assume that a replacement plan from the current carrier is automatically the best choice.

• We also do not assume changing carriers is automatically better.

• We compare the actual plans available.

The Takeaway

According to CBS News, Humana's anticipated 2027 plan exits affect approximately:

600,000 Medicare Advantage members.

CBS News reported that UnitedHealthcare's plan closure affects approximately:

390,000 members.

Many affected beneficiaries will have another plan available from their existing carrier.

But remember:

Same carrier does not mean same plan.

Before choosing replacement coverage, review:

• Your carrier notice.

• Your medications.

• Your providers.

• Your pharmacy.

Then compare:

• Networks.

• Formularies.

• Premiums.

• Cost sharing.

• Prior authorization.

• Total annual exposure.

• Benefits.

That is how you move from simply replacing a plan to making an informed Medicare decision.

• Education first.

• I'm La Jon Dantzler, founder of Dantzler Health Solutions.

Is Your Medicare Advantage Plan Ending for 2027?

Bring your carrier notice, medication list, provider list, and preferred pharmacy.

Let's review what the actual 2027 options look like.

Request My Medicare Review

Related Medicare Resources

Medicare Plan Nonrenewal Explained

Medicare Crosswalk Explained

Medicare Enrollment and Coverage Guidance

Contact Dantzler Health Solutions

Frequently Asked Questions

Does another plan from the same Medicare insurance company have the same network?

Not necessarily. Provider networks can differ between plans offered by the same carrier.

Will my medications automatically be covered by the replacement Medicare plan?

Not necessarily. Review the replacement plan's formulary, drug tiers, restrictions, and pharmacy arrangements.

Should I automatically take the replacement plan my carrier offers?

No plan should be selected based solely on carrier name. Compare the specific plan against your doctors, prescriptions, expected healthcare use, and costs.

Where can I compare 2027 Medicare plans?

Medicare's official Plan Finder at Medicare.gov allows beneficiaries to compare available 2027 plans by location and include medication and pharmacy information.

Educational Disclaimer

This content is provided for educational purposes.

Plan availability, provider networks, formularies, pharmacies, premiums, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, prior authorization rules, supplemental benefits, and maximum out of pocket amounts vary by plan and service area.

Dantzler Health Solutions does not represent every Medicare plan available in every service area.

For information about all available options, visit Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

Dantzler Health Solutions is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

Sources

CBS News: Humana and UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan exits, October 23, 2026

Medicare.gov: Open Enrollment

Medicare.gov: Compare Health and Drug Plans