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News
Major insurers are slashing Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, leaving millions of seniors facing fewer choices, higher out-of-pocket costs, and reduced benefits. New CMS data shows the total number of MA plans dipping slightly, but the real story is the turmoil beneath the surface. Overall MA enrollment is projected to fall by about 2 million people next year.
Medicare's open enrollment season (starting Oct. 15) is shaping up to be a challenging one. New CMS landscape data reveals that major insurers — still recovering from years of unexpectedly high medical costs — are significantly cutting Medicare Advantage (MA) plans for 2027. While the total plan count barely budges nationally (5,553 → 5,532), the headline number masks serious disruption: every major publicly traded insurer is reducing its individual MA plan offerings, and many are pulling out of counties altogether.
The cuts follow a similarly turbulent 2026 enrollment period, when nearly 3 million seniors were forced to find new coverage. For 2027, overall MA enrollment is projected to drop to 34 million — potentially falling below 50% of total Medicare enrollment for the first time since 2023.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Seniors who don't actively review their coverage could unknowingly roll into plans that are less generous than before. With higher cost-sharing, fewer $0-premium options, and shrinking supplemental benefits like dental, the real cost of MA coverage in 2027 may catch many enrollees off guard.
