Some Medicare Advantage plans will not return in certain areas for 2027. Members should read their plan notices and review their options.
What UHC and Humana Members Should Know
By Better Family Legacy Insurance | Licensed in Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, Louisiana, and 30+ additional states
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan with UnitedHealthcare or Humana, there is some important news to pay attention to as we head into Medicare Open Enrollment.
Both companies will continue offering Medicare Advantage plans in 2027. But they are changing where some plans are offered, and some current members may find that the plan they have today will not be available to them next year.
That distinction is important.
UnitedHealthcare and Humana are not leaving Medicare Advantage nationwide. But your individual plan could still be changing or leaving your area.
UnitedHealthcare Is Discontinuing Some Plans
UnitedHealthcare confirmed on October 1 that it is making changes to some Medicare Advantage service areas and discontinuing some plans effective January 1, 2027.
The company says affected members are being sent nonrenewal notices dated October 2.
UnitedHealthcare will still have a large Medicare presence in 2027. The company says more than 94% of Medicare-eligible people nationwide will have access to a UnitedHealthcare Medicare plan.
So this is not a story about UnitedHealthcare getting out of Medicare.
It is a story about where certain plans will and will not be available next year.
A Note on Alabama and Arkansas
Georgia is not among the states where UnitedHealthcare has reported service area reductions for 2027. However, Alabama and Arkansas — two states where Better Family Legacy Insurance also serves Medicare beneficiaries — are among the 12 states where UHC has indicated some county-level changes.
If you are a UHC Medicare Advantage member in Alabama or Arkansas, read your nonrenewal notice carefully and verify your specific plan's status at Medicare.gov. Your neighbor's situation may not be your situation — availability varies by county and by plan.
Humana Is Also Reducing Its Footprint
Humana will also continue offering Medicare Advantage plans in 2027.
However, national reporting shows that Humana will offer Medicare Advantage coverage in a smaller share of U.S. counties next year, dropping from about 85% of counties to just over 80%.
That does not mean every Humana member is losing coverage.
It means Humana members need to check their own 2027 plan information instead of assuming that because Humana is still offering Medicare Advantage, their particular plan will remain the same.
Why Are Medicare Advantage Companies Making Changes?
Medicare Advantage companies review their plans and service areas every year.
For 2027, insurers are responding to healthcare use, medical costs, payment conditions, and the financial performance of their Medicare Advantage business.
Some companies are also putting more emphasis on HMO plans and plans designed for people with specific health or financial needs.
Those business decisions can eventually become very personal for a Medicare beneficiary.
A company may continue offering Medicare Advantage across the country while deciding not to offer your particular plan where you live.
How Will You Know if Your Plan Is Affected?
Read the mail from your Medicare Advantage plan.
This is not the year to automatically put those insurance envelopes in the pile.
If your plan will not be offered in 2027, you should receive an official notice explaining what is happening and what options you have.
UnitedHealthcare says affected members are receiving nonrenewal notices dated October 2.
Keep that letter.
Do not throw it away after you read it. You may need the notice later to document why your coverage ended.
What Happens if Your Medicare Advantage Plan Ends?
You have options, but the exact options and deadlines depend on why your coverage is ending.
During Medicare Open Enrollment, October 15 through December 7, you can compare available Medicare Advantage plans or return to Original Medicare.
Medicare also provides a Special Enrollment Period when a Medicare Advantage contract is not renewed. For a plan that isn't renewed for the new year, Medicare currently lists that Special Enrollment Period as December 8 through the last day of February.
If you do not enroll in another Medicare Advantage plan before your current plan ends, Medicare says you will be enrolled in Original Medicare.
But this is where people need to slow down.
Going from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare is not simply changing the name on your insurance card.
You need to think about how you will receive your medical coverage, how you will get prescription drug coverage, and whether Medicare Supplement coverage may be available to you.
Don't Forget About Prescription Drugs
Most Medicare Advantage plans include Part D prescription drug coverage.
Original Medicare does not automatically include Part D.
If your Medicare Advantage plan ends and you return to Original Medicare, you may need to enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan if you want Medicare prescription drug coverage.
That makes your medication list especially important.
Before choosing new coverage, write down every prescription you take, the dosage, and the pharmacy you prefer to use. Then check how those medications are covered under the plans you are considering.
You May Have Special Medigap Rights
This is something many beneficiaries may not know.
Medicare provides certain guaranteed-issue rights for Medigap in specific situations, including some cases where a Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare or no longer provides coverage where a person lives.
Guaranteed issue means an insurance company generally cannot use medical underwriting to deny an eligible Medigap policy when the federal protection applies.
But do not assume this means everyone leaving a Medicare Advantage plan can automatically buy any Medicare Supplement plan they want.
The rules depend on why your coverage is ending and your individual circumstances.
Timing matters too.
For certain qualifying situations, Medicare says you can apply beginning 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends and no more than 63 days after it ends.
That is another reason to keep your nonrenewal letter.
What About Georgia?
These Medicare Advantage changes have local consequences, and Georgia beneficiaries should check their own coverage.
CMS reports that Georgia has 161 Medicare Advantage plans available for 2027, compared with 166 in 2026. Every Medicare beneficiary in Georgia has access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan.
But those statewide numbers do not tell you whether your particular plan will return.
Medicare Advantage availability can vary by county and by plan.
If you live in Georgia, check your own 2027 plan information. Look at your Annual Notice of Change, any nonrenewal notice you receive, and the current plans available where you live.
Your neighbor's answer may not be your answer.
Don't Choose the Next Plan by Premium Alone
If your plan is ending, it may be tempting to simply find another $0-premium plan.
Premium matters.
But it is not the only thing that matters.
Before choosing replacement coverage, ask:
• Are my doctors in the network?
• Is my hospital in the network?
• Are my prescriptions covered?
• What will my medications cost?
• What are the copays for specialists and hospital care?
• What is the plan's maximum out-of-pocket amount?
• Are the pharmacies I use preferred?
• Which extra benefits do I actually use?
A plan that looks inexpensive on the front end may not be the best fit for the way you actually use healthcare.
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| Keep your notice, check doctors and prescriptions, compare available plans and understand your Medicare rights before choosing new coverage. |
If Your Plan Is Ending, Start Here
• First, keep your notice.
• Confirm exactly what is ending. Is the company leaving your area, or is your particular plan being discontinued?
• Make a list of your doctors, hospitals, medications, and pharmacies.
• Compare the plans actually available where you live.
• If you are considering returning to Original Medicare, find out how you will handle prescription drug coverage and whether you have Medigap guaranteed-issue rights.
• Understand the deadlines that apply to your situation.
The Bottom Line
Seeing headlines about UnitedHealthcare and Humana reducing Medicare Advantage coverage can sound alarming.
But the important question is not:
"Is this company leaving Medicare?"
The better question is:
"Is my plan changing or leaving where I live, and what are my options if it is?"
Some beneficiaries will not be affected at all.
Others may have an important coverage decision to make before 2027 begins.
Either way, don't guess.
Read your notice. Check your doctors. Check your medications. Understand your choices before you decide.
Peace comes from knowing, not guessing.
This article is for general Medicare education. Medicare Advantage availability, benefits, provider networks, prescription drug coverage, and costs vary by plan and location. Enrollment periods and Medicare Supplement rights depend on individual circumstances. The state and county information referenced reflects reporting available as of early October 2026 and is subject to change. Review your official plan notice and current Medicare information at Medicare.gov before making coverage decisions. Better Family Legacy Insurance is not providing legal, tax, or financial advice.
Better Family Legacy Insurance | info@betterfamilylegacy.com | Licensed in Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, Louisiana, and 24+ states
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