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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
UnitedHealthcare's CFO says the insurer is feeling confident heading into 2027 Medicare Advantage (MA) open enrollment, even as it continues trimming its footprint. After shedding over a million members in 2026 to boost margins, the company expects to land in the upper half of its 2–4% margin target. More county exits and benefit cuts are still on the table — and UnitedHealthcare isn't alone.
Medicare Advantage has gone from a cash cow to a margin headache for major insurers — and the industry is still in cleanup mode. UnitedHealthcare CFO Wayne DeVeydt told investors at Wells Fargo's annual healthcare conference that the company is "very competitive" heading into 2027 open enrollment, even as it continues to exit underperforming markets and trim supplemental benefits. After a turbulent 2026 sign-up season, the insurer expects to end the year with up to 1.1 million fewer MA members than it had in 2025.
The silver lining? Fewer — but lower-cost — members means improved margins, and UnitedHealthcare now expects to finish 2026 in the upper half of its 2–4% margin target. Still, the company is eyeing exits from 34 counties across 12 states for 2027 — affecting roughly 20,000 members — and plans to further cut supplemental benefits. Humana, Aetna, Elevance, and Centene have all signaled similar moves.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Seniors are facing a shrinking, less generous MA marketplace — and 2027 looks like more of the same. With multiple major insurers signaling further cuts, millions of Medicare beneficiaries may need to reassess their coverage options when open enrollment kicks off October 15.
