Medicare education · 2027 plan year
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period: what's changing for 2027
Major carriers including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Humana and WellCare have announced 2027 plan exits and reductions affecting more than 1.7 million Medicare Advantage members across 1,800+ counties. If your plan is changing, the Annual Enrollment Period is your window to review your options.
Source: Empathy analysis of CMS Medicare Advantage enrollment data; carrier plan-year 2027 announcements.
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Medicare Annual Enrollment Period
October 15 – December 7, 2026
Changes made during the Annual Enrollment Period take effect January 1, 2027.
Plan-year 2027 changes
What's changing for 2027
For 2027, several large Medicare Advantage carriers are exiting counties, reducing service areas, or pausing new enrollment. These changes take effect January 1, 2027. If you are in an affected plan, your plan will notify you, and the Annual Enrollment Period is when you can choose other coverage.
We are not connected to or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Plan exits and service-area reductions
UnitedHealthcare
More than 928,000 members are in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans that are exiting or reducing service areas for 2027, across 1,829 counties.
UnitedHealthcare has also said it will stop accepting new enrollments in certain plan segments effective January 1, 2027.
Source: Empathy analysis of CMS enrollment data; UnitedHealthcare plan-year 2027 announcement.
Reported: Separately, Healthcare Dive reported that UnitedHealthcare expects up to about 1.1 million fewer Medicare Advantage members and has pulled about 13% of its plans across 18 states for 2027. Healthcare Dive, Sep 9, 2026
Affected? Review your options with a licensed agent.
PPO exits and standalone drug plan exit
Aetna
About 351,844 Aetna members across 1,404 counties are affected by 2027 changes, including an exit from individual Medicare Advantage PPO coverage in 61 counties across 18 states.
Aetna is also exiting standalone Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) in Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Colorado.
People in those standalone drug plans need to choose a new drug plan during AEP to have drug coverage starting January 1, 2027.
Source: Empathy analysis of CMS enrollment data; Aetna plan-year 2027 announcement.
Affected? Review your options with a licensed agent.
Announced service-area retreat
Humana
Humana has announced a Medicare Advantage retreat covering 1,090 counties in 30 states for 2027.
Source: Humana plan-year 2027 announcement; Empathy analysis of CMS enrollment data.
Reported: Becker's Payer reported that Humana will exit Medicare Advantage plans covering about 600,000 members in 2027. Becker's Payer, Jul 29, 2026
Affected? Review your options with a licensed agent.
Full county exits
WellCare (Centene)
About 108,425 WellCare members across 819 counties are affected by 2027 changes, including full exits from 183 counties in 5 states.
Source: Empathy analysis of CMS enrollment data; Centene/WellCare plan-year 2027 announcement.
Reported: Centene's CEO has said the company plans “to further simplify our Medicare Advantage footprint” for 2027, as reported by Healthcare Dive. Healthcare Dive, Sep 9, 2026
Affected? Review your options with a licensed agent.
How the window works
What you can do during the Annual Enrollment Period
The Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. Any change you make takes effect January 1. During the window, people with Medicare can:
- Move from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Move from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare.
- Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Enroll in, change, or drop a standalone Part D prescription drug plan.
If you do nothing, most plans renew automatically — which is why it matters to read your plan's notice of changes for next year. Learn more about Special Enrollment Periods or start with our Medicare overview.
We are not connected to or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE describe the federal enrollment rules in detail.
Review your options before December 7
Answer a few questions and a licensed agent will follow up to walk through the options available in your area. Educational, no pressure, and no obligation to enroll.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
Frequently asked
Annual Enrollment Period questions
We are not connected to or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Sources for plan-discontinuation rights: Medicare.gov — Special Enrollment Periods; Insurance Business, Aug 31, 2026 (citing KFF on Medigap guaranteed-issue rights)
We are not connected to or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.