4.3 Million People Must Replace a Medicare Plan That Ends This Year
KFF, using federal plan files, says 4.3 million people will lose a Medicare Advantage drug plan or a stand-alone drug plan at the end of 2026. Open enrollment runs through December 7, and a missed choice can leave someone on Original Medicare without drug coverage.
Millions of older Americans are learning that a Medicare plan they have now will not be offered next year. The yearly open enrollment period began October 15 and ends December 7. A change made by that date takes effect January 1, 2027.
KFF, working from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services plan files dated to this fall, reports that 4.3 million beneficiaries will have a plan terminated at the end of 2026. That count is 3.1 million people in Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage, plus 1.2 million people in stand-alone drug plans. Of the 3.1 million, about 2.8 million are in Medicare Advantage drug plans open to general enrollment, and about 300,000 are in special needs plans. A further 1.4 million Medicare Advantage enrollees are in a plan that is folding into a different plan from the same insurer, which is not the same thing as a termination.
KFF's breakdown of the individual Medicare Advantage drug plans that are ending puts the largest shares at Humana, about 530,000 people, UnitedHealth Group, about 367,000, CVS Health, about 254,000, and Aware Integrated, about 249,000. Aware Integrated sold Blue Cross branded plans in Minnesota. KFF published the analysis on October 27.
If a plan will not be offered and you do not pick another one, KFF says you are placed in Original Medicare. Unless drugs are covered some other way, you then need a Part D plan. People whose plan is discontinued generally can choose from October 15 through the last day of February 2027. The plan finder at Medicare.gov is the place to check doctors and prescriptions. State Health Insurance Assistance Programs, called SHIP, help at no charge. Read the letter from the plan, and do not leave the choice to the last days before December 7.
Go Deeper
How many people are losing a plan?
KFF says 4.3 million beneficiaries have a plan terminated at the end of 2026: 3.1 million in Medicare Advantage drug plans and 1.2 million in stand-alone drug plans.
When is the deadline?
Annual open enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7. Coverage chosen by then starts January 1, 2027. A discontinued plan also allows a choice through the last day of February 2027.
What if I do nothing?
KFF says you return to Original Medicare. Without other drug coverage you need to enroll in a Part D plan.
Which insurers account for the most endings?
For individual Medicare Advantage drug plans, KFF names Humana at about 530,000 people, UnitedHealth Group at about 367,000, CVS Health at about 254,000, and Aware Integrated at about 249,000.
Where do the numbers come from?
KFF's October 27, 2026 issue brief, built from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services plan files.
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