Insurers are cutting back Medicare Advantage coverage ahead of this month’s open enrollment, leaving millions of beneficiaries with fewer plan choices. Quartz reports that the average Medicare beneficiary will have 28 prescription drug plan options in 2027, down from 32 in 2026, as major insurers reduce participation in less profitable markets.
Multiple outlets describe a broader geographic pullback. The New York Times says private Medicare plans are raising costs and, in some areas, insurers are discontinuing coverage, forcing enrollees to shop for new insurance. MarketWatch adds that no Medicare Advantage plans will be available in 181 counties in 2027, up from 67 in 2026, indicating a significant increase in areas affected by reduced access.
Taken together, the coverage suggests that changes in insurer participation are narrowing the marketplace for Medicare Advantage—both in the number of available plans and in where those plans operate—during the current enrollment period.
