\n Millions of senior citizens and other enrollees will have to find new Medicare Advantage plans because their policies are being terminated, while others could have to pay more for their coverage and care.\n <\/p>\n
\n The disruption also comes as Americans prepare to vote in the midterm elections, where the rising cost of healthcare and other necessities is a key concern. Senior citizens are a reliable voting bloc that both parties are trying to woo. President Donald Trump announced this month that he is sending a $90 payment<\/a> to about 20 million senior citizens to help them cover part of their Medicare premiums \u2013 but those enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans aren\u2019t eligible.\n <\/p>\n \n Medicare Advantage plans had grown rapidly in popularity as insurers expanded their offerings and benefits to lure the growing senior population. They are often more attractive than traditional Medicare to budget-conscious older Americans because they have limits on out-of-pocket spending and provide some supplemental benefits, such as dental, vision and hearing coverage. However, they typically have more limited doctor networks than traditional Medicare, and certain treatments can be subject to prior authorization.\n <\/p>\n \n But in recent years, insurers have been discontinuing their less profitable Medicare Advantage plans and seeking to stabilize their offerings, even if it means fewer policyholders. Insurers estimate that enrollment will drop to 34 million people, or 47.4% of total Medicare enrollment in 2027, though the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services expects actual enrollment to be higher than projections and is stressing stability in the Medicare Advantage market. Open enrollment ends on December 7.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cCMS is fighting to keep high-quality care options affordable and accessible for the millions of beneficiaries who rely on Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans,\u201d CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said in a statement.\n <\/p>\n \n Nearly 3.2 million Medicare Advantage enrollees, or almost 11%, will have to shop for new policies for 2027 because their insurers are no longer offering their plans, said Jared Strock, founder of Medicare Market Insights, a weekly newsletter for the Medicare industry leaders. That compares with about 2.9 million and 2 million enrollees whose plans were terminated for this year and for 2025, respectively. Prior to that, only 1% to 2% of enrollees typically lost their plans year to year.\n <\/p>\n \n Major insurers, including Humana, UnitedHealthcare, CVS\u2019 Aetna and several Blue Cross and Blue Shield carriers, are among those culling their offerings or pulling out of geographic areas, according to Strock, who reviewed CMS data. Many of the plans being canceled are preferred provider organization, or PPO, policies, which give patients more flexibility and include out-of-network coverage.\n <\/p>\n \n To be sure, most enrollees will still have a choice of multiple policies. The average beneficiary will have 28 Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage to select from, although that\u2019s down from a high of 36 plans in 2024, according to KFF<\/a>, a nonpartisan health policy research group.\n <\/p>\n![\"Mehmet](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gettyimages-2297190147.jpg\")
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