Update: 2027’s disappearing Medicare Advantage plans

Hey friends —

Medicare’s annual open enrollment period kicks off today and for millions of seniors on privatized Medicare plans — many more than expected — it’s looking like a hell of a ride. 

When we reported on disappearing Medicare plans last month, we knew at least two million people on Medicare Advantage, the privatized version of Medicare, would be forced to find new plans for 2027. And that they’d likely find fewer, crummier options.  

Since we published that story, actual federal data has come out. Number-crunchers are still digging in, but analysts told the New York Times as many as 5 million people may be forced to hunt for new plans. More than last year — and more than twice as many as we knew about when we published.

And since then: We’ve learned about factors that could make the hunt for new plans more difficult. 

We’ve also got some new suggestions about what to do.

Read on for what we’ve learned, starting with a snapshot of where the most plans are disappearing. 

Snapshot: Where are insurance companies pulling the most plans for 2027?

We’re looking at big swaths of rural America — and some major metro areas. 

According to an analysis of federal data by health-policy researchers at KFF, about 190 counties — mostly rural — will have no Medicare Advantage plans available at all. Last year that number was about 120, so this is a big jump. 

We used KFF’s numbers to zoom in on metro areas. None are going down to zero, but here are some places where it looks like seniors will see a lot fewer plans:

If you’re curious about your area — or your specific plan — we came across a resource this morning that could be helpful.  The site Is My Plan Ending allows you to search by your zip code, state or county.

We have not had a chance to vet this site. The authors are anonymous. But we like what we’ve seen so far.

They write: “This site is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, CMS, or any insurance company. We don’t sell insurance, and no insurer pays us.”

They cite the public data sources they’re using and describe how they did their analysis.

We’ve written to a public email address asking for more info about their project. 

Need a new plan? Don’t delay 

Because choices may keep getting narrower over the coming weeks.

Since publishing our story last month, we learned, via the trade publication Modern Healthcare: Insurance companies are capping enrollments on some of the plans that they’re keeping in the market. 

Which means: If you wait to sign up, a plan you want might already be full.

This is brand-new territory — the first time federal officials have ever allowed Medicare Advantage plans to limit the number of sign-ups.

There are supposed to be rules: Plans can’t enroll *fewer* people than they had in mid-2026. They’re supposed to enroll people first-come, first-served — no cherry-picking for health conditions, age, or demographics.

But the feds have not offered specifics about how it will enforce those rules.  

“This is a first-of-its-kind experience,” an industry executive told Modern Healthcare. “We’re all going to learn about it in real time.

So that sounds fun.

More reasons not to delay

With so many people on the hunt for new plans, it may take longer than usual to get help. 

Last year in Minnesota, the state’s free Medicare hotline was totally slammed, and some people faced wait times of two hours. 

And a good insurance broker may be tough to get a hold of, too. That’s because insurance companies like Humana and Aetna have continued to slash broker commissions. In Minnesota last year, that meant some brokers didn’t return calls for people looking to enroll in Medicare Advantage. 

Some quick do’s and don’ts when looking for Medicare help

Do try calling your SHIP: Every state has a health insurance assistance program — a “SHIP” — to help seniors with Medicare. It’s free and the staff and volunteers are required to give you unbiased information on all available options. Find your state in this directory. 

Do ask around for local Medicare counseling services: Friends, family, leaders at your place of worship, and the constituent services of your local elected officials may have the scoop on where you can get one-on-one help. 

Do ask questions if you contact a broker. You want a broker who’s going to talk with you about all your options — including switching to traditional Medicare and a supplemental plan. Ask if they’re appointed to sell plans from all available insurance carriers. And ask if they answer questions about your plan year-round, because insurance never stops being confusing.

Do double check what you see on Medicare.gov: Medicare’s Plan Finder allows you to search plans online. But lists of doctors and drugs that are covered can sometimes be wrong. To be safe, double check with your doctor’s office or a SHIP counselor, broker, or other Medicare assistor. 

Don’t share your phone number with brokers or agents you find online. You’re inviting a world of spam calls, and insurance agents of various levels of legitimacy and unknowable intentions.

Don’t miss the deadline. Open enrollment for Medicare runs October 15, 2026 through December 7, 2026. 

That’s all for this week. Good luck out there. 

Sincerely,

Emily and Dan

P.S. And if the information here strikes you as useful, please consider chipping in to support our work.

We reported this story over the course of several months, talking to SHIP volunteers, brokers, and seniors all over the country.  This week, we’ve shared our findings in appearances on NPR’s All Things Considered, KERA in Dallas-Fort Worth, WBEZ Chicago, and KFF Health News’s podcast What The Health.   

Help us do more, if you can.  Thanks!