Goodsurance

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage Enrollment Tops 55 Percent in 2026, but the Two Largest Insurers Are Cutting Their County Presence

A KFF analysis finds 35.2 million Medicare beneficiaries are now in Medicare Advantage, up 1.1 million since early 2025, while UnitedHealthcare and Humana each exit roughly 200 counties.

By the Goodsurance editorial teamSeptember 8, 2026

In 2026, more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in both Part A and Part B are in Medicare Advantage plans, according to a KFF analysis of federal enrollment data. The total stands at 35.2 million people out of 64.2 million eligible beneficiaries, a 55 percent share and a net gain of about 1.1 million people, or 3 percent, compared with February 2025.

Two organizations dominate the national market. UnitedHealth Group and Humana together account for 46 percent of all Medicare Advantage enrollment. UnitedHealth Group's share fell to 26 percent from 29 percent, representing about 9.3 million enrollees. Humana's share rose to 20 percent from 17 percent, covering about 7 million enrollees.

More than half of Medicare members are now in Medicare Advantage, but the two biggest insurers are each leaving roughly 200 counties in 2026.

Despite those enrollment figures, both companies are withdrawing from county markets. UnitedHealthcare is exiting 225 counties while entering only 14 new ones. Humana is leaving 198 counties while entering just 5. Each now offers plans in about 80 percent of U.S. counties, down from close to 90 percent in 2025.

In 889 counties, representing 28 percent of all counties nationwide, UnitedHealth Group and Humana together control at least 75 percent of local Medicare Advantage enrollment. KFF identifies East Baton Rouge, Louisiana at 81 percent, Travis County, Texas at 78 percent, and Palm Beach, Florida at 75 percent as examples of highly concentrated markets. When either company exits such a county, beneficiaries may face fewer competitive alternatives.

The average beneficiary can still choose from 32 Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans in their area. Most enrollment growth this year came from Special Needs Plans.

In plain words

More than half of all Medicare members now have a Medicare Advantage plan. The total is 35.2 million people in 2026, which is 55 out of every 100 Medicare members.

The two biggest companies are UnitedHealthcare and Humana. Together they cover almost half of all Medicare Advantage members. But both companies are leaving many areas. UnitedHealthcare is leaving 225 counties. Humana is leaving 198 counties. Both now offer plans in fewer places than last year.

In some areas, these two companies serve 75 or more out of every 100 Medicare Advantage members. When they leave, people in those places may have fewer plans to choose from.

Most people still have 32 plans to pick from on average. Most of the growth in Medicare Advantage came from special plans for people with serious health conditions or people who have both Medicare and Medicaid.

Understand the basics first

Source: KFF
Read at the source →

More news

Other stories on what is moving in Medicare.

Medicare Advantage

2027 Medicare Advantage Plans Are No Longer Required to Send Mid-Year Reminders About Unused Extra Benefits

A KFF analysis of the 2027 Medicare Advantage final rule finds CMS added point-of-sale guardrails for plan-issued benefit debit cards and required public posting of special-benefit eligibility criteria, while eliminating a notification requirement that would have prompted enrollees to use supplemental benefits they had not yet claimed.

October 20, 2026

Medicare Advantage

OIG Estimates 462 Million Dollars in Medicare Advantage Overpayments Tied to Unverified Stroke Diagnoses

A federal audit found that Medicare Advantage plans submitted acute stroke diagnosis codes to CMS via physician records for thousands of enrollees whose medical files contained no hospital record confirming the diagnosis, generating large estimated overpayments across the program.

October 19, 2026

Medicare Advantage

The 2027 Medicare Advantage Reset: Who Ordered It, Who Pays

About 3.16 million people lose their Medicare Advantage plan for 2027, the third straight year the number has grown. Who made the decisions, what they said, and where it hits hardest.

October 19, 2026

Medicare Advantage

GAO Report Flags 23.7 Billion Dollars in Medicare Advantage Improper Payments and Calls for Stronger Fraud Controls

The Government Accountability Office found that Medicare Advantage improper payments hit an estimated 23.7 billion dollars in fiscal year 2025, representing about 6.1 percent of the program's outlays, while CMS has yet to complete a comprehensive fraud risk assessment.

October 18, 2026

Medicare Advantage

KFF: Nearly Three-Quarters of Medicare Advantage Enrollees Have a Condition That Could Block a Medigap Policy

A KFF analysis published the day before open enrollment opens finds that most people in Medicare Advantage plans carry diagnoses that Medigap insurers can use to deny or reprice coverage if those enrollees try to return to Original Medicare.

October 14, 2026

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage Plans Reversed Nearly All Skilled Nursing Facility Denials on Appeal, OIG Finds

A federal audit of 19 Medicare Advantage organizations found they overturned 95 percent of denied prior authorization requests for skilled nursing facility stays when enrollees appealed, raising questions about the accuracy of initial decisions.

October 11, 2026