The latest Humana Medicare Advantage plan changes are putting 2027 coverage decisions under a sharper spotlight, with the insurer planning targeted exits that could affect about 600,000 members.
Humana announced the planned exits as part of a broader effort to improve the financial performance of its Medicare Advantage business. The company intends to concentrate on plans with stronger returns and greater participation in value-based care arrangements.
The changes do not mean that 600,000 people will necessarily lose Humana coverage altogether. Humana expects to move a significant share of affected members into other plans where suitable options remain available.
Still, thousands of beneficiaries may need to review their coverage before the 2027 plan year begins. The company has not publicly released the complete list of affected plans and counties as of September 11, 2026.
That makes the fall enrollment period especially important for current members.
Why Humana Is Changing Its 2027 Medicare Advantage Portfolio
Humana’s Medicare Advantage business has undergone significant changes over the past several years.
The company has dealt with higher medical costs, changing federal payment policies and pressure on plan profitability. Those conditions have pushed Humana to reconsider which plans it wants to continue offering.
For 2027, Humana is taking a targeted approach rather than cutting benefits or withdrawing from Medicare Advantage nationwide.
The company says it wants to protect stronger-performing plans while reducing exposure to products with weaker financial returns.
Humana’s long-term objective is to return its Medicare Advantage business to a sustainable pretax margin of at least 3% by 2028.
The 2027 plan decisions are part of that effort.
Instead of making identical changes across its entire portfolio, Humana plans to focus its reductions on the lower-performing portion of its business. Plans with stronger value-based care participation will receive greater priority.
This strategy could result in different experiences for beneficiaries depending on where they live and which Humana plan they currently have.
About 600,000 Members Could Be Affected
Humana expects its 2027 plan exits to affect approximately 600,000 Medicare Advantage members.
The figure represents roughly 8% of Humana’s approximately 7.2 million Medicare Advantage members.
The number is substantial, but it should not be interpreted as 600,000 beneficiaries automatically leaving Humana.
Humana expects to recapture a significant portion of affected members through other plans. During the company’s previous round of plan exits, it retained slightly more than 40% of affected members by enrolling them in alternative Humana plans.
Executives have indicated that a similar level of recapture could occur for the 2027 changes.
That could mean hundreds of thousands of members remain with Humana after selecting a different available plan.
Other beneficiaries may decide to move to another Medicare Advantage insurer or consider Original Medicare.
The final outcome will depend on the plans available in each member’s local market.
Humana Has Not Released Every Affected Plan
One of the most important facts for members is that the company has not publicly identified all affected plans and counties.
Therefore, a national announcement about approximately 600,000 affected members cannot tell an individual beneficiary whether their own coverage will end.
Members should rely on their individual plan notices and 2027 plan documents.
Humana’s plan-document system says its 2027 Evidence of Coverage will become available beginning October 1, 2026.
Those documents will provide detailed information about benefits, costs and covered services for the upcoming year.
Beneficiaries whose current plans will not continue should receive formal notification explaining the change and available enrollment options.
What the 2027 Changes Mean for Current Humana Members
The most important question for a current member is simple: Will my plan still be available in 2027?
If the answer is yes, the review should not stop there.
A continuing plan can still have changes to premiums, copayments, deductibles, provider networks, prescription coverage and supplemental benefits.
That means every member should review the new plan information rather than automatically renewing based on the current year’s coverage.
Several areas deserve close attention:
- Monthly premiums
- Medical deductibles
- Specialist copayments
- Hospital costs
- Out-of-pocket maximums
- Prescription drug costs
- Drug formularies
- Doctor networks
- Hospital networks
- Pharmacy networks
- Dental benefits
- Vision benefits
- Hearing benefits
- Transportation benefits
- Other supplemental benefits
A plan that remains available can still become more or less attractive depending on these changes.
Provider Networks Could Be Especially Important
A provider network can have a major impact on the value of a Medicare Advantage plan.
Someone who regularly visits a primary care physician may want to confirm that doctor remains in network.
The same applies to specialists, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and other frequently used providers.
Members should check the 2027 provider directory when it becomes available.
It is also reasonable to contact doctors’ offices directly when network participation is particularly important. Provider directories can change, and individual offices can confirm whether they expect to participate in the plan.
This step matters even more for people receiving ongoing treatment.
A lower monthly premium may not compensate for losing convenient access to a preferred doctor or hospital.
Prescription Drug Coverage Needs a Careful Review
Prescription coverage is another major part of the annual review.
Many Humana Medicare Advantage plans include Part D prescription drug coverage. Drug coverage can change from one plan year to another.
Members should check whether their medications remain covered and whether the applicable cost-sharing has changed.
They should also examine:
- The plan’s formulary
- Drug tiers
- Copayments
- Coinsurance
- Pharmacy networks
- Prior authorization requirements
- Quantity limits
- Step-therapy requirements
A medication remaining on a formulary does not necessarily mean its cost will remain the same.
For beneficiaries taking several prescriptions, even relatively small changes can affect annual healthcare spending.
Humana’s 2027 Evidence of Coverage Arrives October 1
Humana has indicated that its 2027 Evidence of Coverage documents will be available starting October 1.
The document is an important resource for members because it explains the detailed rules of the plan.
The Annual Notice of Change also plays a central role.
This notice highlights changes that take effect in the new plan year. It can help members identify differences in premiums, benefits and cost-sharing without having to compare every page of the coverage document.
Members should keep these materials and review them carefully.
Anyone who receives a notice that a plan is ending should pay particular attention to the enrollment instructions and deadlines.
The October Enrollment Window Will Matter
Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7.
During this period, eligible beneficiaries can make changes to their Medicare coverage for the following year.
That can include switching Medicare Advantage plans, changing insurers or moving between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare when permitted.
Coverage changes made during this period generally begin January 1, 2027.
For a Humana member affected by a plan exit, this window provides an important opportunity to compare alternatives.
However, beneficiaries should not wait until December to begin reviewing options.
The earlier review starts, the more time there is to compare premiums, networks, medications and benefits.
Federal Medicare Advantage Payments Are Also Changing
Humana’s decisions are occurring while the broader Medicare Advantage program enters another important policy year.
CMS finalized the 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D payment policies in April 2026.
The final policy projects a net average increase of 2.48% in Medicare Advantage payments to plans for 2027. CMS estimated that this represents more than $13 billion in additional payments to Medicare Advantage plans.
The payment increase does not mean every Medicare Advantage beneficiary will receive a 2.48% benefit increase.
It also does not guarantee that an individual plan’s premium will fall or remain unchanged.
Medicare Advantage insurers use federal payments along with medical costs, risk adjustment, plan performance and other factors when developing their annual bids.
Humana’s plan decisions therefore reflect its own financial assessment of specific products and markets.
Star Ratings Are Part of the Financial Picture
Medicare Advantage Star Ratings also play an important role in the business environment.
The system evaluates plans across measures related to areas such as preventive care, chronic condition management, member experience and other aspects of healthcare quality.
Humana has faced pressure from weaker Star Ratings.
Company executives have said that the insurer is working to improve its performance and reach top-quartile Star Ratings for the 2028 bonus year.
Some of the plans being discontinued for 2027 have ratings of 3.5 stars or lower for the applicable bonus year.
However, Humana has emphasized that Star Ratings are not the primary reason for the exits.
The company says profitability, returns and value-based care participation are central factors in determining which plans remain.
Why Value-Based Care Matters to Humana
Value-based care has become a central part of Humana’s Medicare Advantage strategy.
Under value-based arrangements, healthcare providers can have financial incentives tied to quality, outcomes and effective management of patient care.
Humana has said it will prioritize plans with greater participation in these arrangements.
That approach reflects the company’s broader strategy of working with healthcare providers to manage costs while maintaining quality.
For members, the change may not be immediately visible.
However, the structure of provider relationships can influence which plans Humana considers sustainable over the long term.
The Changes Follow Earlier Humana Exits
The 2027 reductions are not Humana’s first recent effort to reshape its Medicare Advantage business.
The company also exited certain plans and counties for 2025.
Humana’s 2026 footprint became smaller after those decisions. The insurer offered Medicare Advantage coverage in 46 states and approximately 85% of U.S. counties for 2026.
At the same time, Humana experienced substantial membership growth.
The company added more than one million Medicare Advantage members for 2026 coverage, creating a much larger membership base even as its geographic footprint narrowed.
That combination illustrates why the 2027 announcement is better understood as portfolio restructuring rather than a complete retreat from Medicare Advantage.
Humana continues to regard Medicare Advantage as a core part of its business.
What Beneficiaries Should Do Before Open Enrollment
Current members can take several practical steps while waiting for final 2027 plan information.
First, confirm whether the current plan continues.
Do not assume that a plan will automatically renew because it remains available during 2026.
Second, review all cost changes.
Look beyond the monthly premium. Copayments, coinsurance, deductibles and annual out-of-pocket limits can have a larger effect on total healthcare spending.
Third, check doctors and hospitals.
Make sure the providers used most often remain in network.
Fourth, review prescriptions.
Check every regular medication against the 2027 drug list and examine the associated cost-sharing.
Fifth, compare alternatives.
If the current plan ends or becomes less suitable, compare other Medicare Advantage options available in the local area.
Sixth, consider the overall package.
Dental, vision, hearing and other supplemental benefits can be valuable, but they should be considered alongside medical coverage and network access.
A Plan Exit Does Not Mean Losing Medicare
Beneficiaries should not confuse the cancellation of a Medicare Advantage plan with losing Medicare itself.
Medicare Advantage is a private-plan option within Medicare.
If a particular Medicare Advantage plan stops being offered, affected beneficiaries can evaluate other available coverage options.
Depending on individual circumstances, those choices may include another Medicare Advantage plan or Original Medicare.
Prescription drug coverage must also be considered when evaluating a move to Original Medicare.
The right decision varies from person to person. Healthcare needs, medications, doctors, location and expected costs can all influence the best option.
Key Dates for Humana Members
The 2027 enrollment calendar includes several dates that deserve attention.
| Date | What it means |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2026 | Humana’s 2027 Evidence of Coverage becomes available |
| October 15, 2026 | Medicare Open Enrollment begins |
| December 7, 2026 | Medicare Open Enrollment ends |
| January 1, 2027 | New coverage generally begins for elections made during Open Enrollment |
Members affected by nonrenewal should carefully follow the dates included in their individual notices.
What to Watch as 2027 Approaches
The biggest unanswered question remains which specific Humana plans and service areas will be affected.
That information will be critical because Medicare Advantage availability varies by county.
A plan ending in one market does not mean the same plan will disappear nationwide.
Likewise, an alternative Humana plan may be available in one area but not another.
Beneficiaries should therefore focus on their own plan documents and local options instead of relying solely on national membership figures.
The approximately 600,000-member figure provides the scale of the planned changes, but it does not determine an individual’s coverage outcome.
Bottom Line
Humana is preparing for another significant reshaping of its Medicare Advantage portfolio in 2027. About 600,000 members are expected to be affected by targeted plan exits, while the insurer plans to retain a substantial share of those beneficiaries through other available offerings.
The company is focusing on stronger-performing plans and greater participation in value-based care as it works toward a sustainable 3% pretax Medicare Advantage margin by 2028.
For current members, the most important step is to review the 2027 coverage information once it becomes available. Checking provider networks, prescription coverage, premiums, cost-sharing and supplemental benefits can help prevent surprises when the new plan year begins.
Are you seeing changes to your Humana coverage for 2027? Share your experience in the comments and stay informed as more confirmed plan details become available.