Medicare Advantage
About 1 in 10 Medicare Advantage Enrollees Was Forced Out of Their Plan in 2026, Study Finds
Research published in the American Journal of Managed Care found that forced disenrollment from Medicare Advantage plans reached an estimated 10 percent in 2026, roughly 10 times the historical average, as insurer exits and plan terminations accelerated.
By the Goodsurance editorial teamJuly 24, 2026
A study published in the American Journal of Managed Care in June 2026 examined more than 192 million Medicare Advantage enrollee-years and tracked a sharp rise in forced disenrollment, which occurs when an insurer exits a county, reduces its service area, or terminates a contract, leaving beneficiaries without the plan they chose. The study found the forced disenrollment rate had historically run near 1 percent but climbed to an estimated 6.9 percent in 2025 and approximately 10 percent in 2026, translating to roughly 2.9 million Medicare Advantage enrollees pushed out of their plan against their preference in 2026 alone. The spike aligns with well-documented financial pressure across the Medicare Advantage market: rising medical costs and tighter payment rates led several large and regional insurers to shed unprofitable counties or plans heading into both 2026 and 2027. Unlike voluntary disenrollment, forced disenrollment can catch beneficiaries off guard, sometimes with limited notice. Federal rules generally give affected enrollees a special enrollment period to select a new Medicare Advantage plan, a standalone drug plan, or original Medicare coverage, but navigating that process quickly can be difficult, particularly for people with complex health needs.
About 2.9 million Medicare Advantage enrollees were forced from their plans in 2026, a rate roughly 10 times the historical norm.
In plain words
A study looked at tens of millions of Medicare Advantage enrollees over many years. It found that about 1 in 10 people in Medicare Advantage in 2026 was forced out of their plan. That is much higher than the usual rate of about 1 in 100. This happens when an insurance company stops offering a plan or leaves an area. It is not the enrollee's choice. People who get dropped usually get a special window to pick a new plan. But doing so quickly can be hard, especially for people with serious health conditions. The problem grew as more insurers pulled back from areas where they were losing money.
Understand the basics first
Source: AJMC
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