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NewsGood news for seniors: Medicare Advantage premiums are heading down. CMS projects the weighted average monthly premium will fall from $14.37 in 2026 to $12 in 2027 — a drop of more than 16%. Meanwhile, MA prescription drug premiums are expected to plummet 38%, though some major insurers are quietly shrinking their plan footprints to recover margins.
Good news for seniors heading into open enrollment season. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the weighted average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans is projected to fall from $14.37 in 2026 to $12 in 2027 — a decline of more than 16%. The data offers the first preview ahead of Medicare Open Enrollment, which runs October 15 through December 7, 2026.
But the picture isn't entirely rosy. Major insurers like Humana, UnitedHealth, and CVS Health are pulling back from less-profitable markets, reducing plan offerings as they focus on recovering margins rather than growing enrollment. Humana alone saw an estimated 3,995 gross plan exits affecting roughly 942,000 members.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Lower premiums are a win for the 34 million Americans expected to be enrolled in MA plans, but insurer retreats from certain markets could limit choices for beneficiaries in less-competitive regions.