Insurers Trim 2027 Medicare Advantage Plans, Shift Toward Special Needs Plans
Becker's Hospital Review reports that Medicare Advantage insurers are cutting plan offerings in 28 states for 2027, with total plan counts dipping from 5,553 to about 5,532, even as national enrollment projections hold roughly flat at 34 million. Twelve insurers that sold MA plans in 2026, including several health system-owned plans and some Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliates, will exit the market entirely, while large national carriers like Centene, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna are each leaving over 100 counties. Growth is concentrated in special needs plans, which will grow 9.4%, with some insurers limiting new dual-eligible enrollment to members already in the insurer's affiliated Medicaid plan. CMS raised 2027 MA payments by 2.48% (4.98% counting risk score trends), which insurers say is insufficient to offset rising medical costs, setting up a second consecutive year of enrollment upheaval ahead of the Oct. 15–Dec. 7 annual enrollment period.
For Medicaid managed care plans with dual-eligible populations, insurers' pullback from standard MA offerings and pivot toward special needs plans with Medicaid-affiliated enrollment restrictions will reshape integrated care options and enrollment pathways for dually eligible beneficiaries.
Managed Care · Finance
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