Agents & how we are paid
Aetna Drops Broker Commissions on 123 Medicare Advantage Plans for 2027 While Open Enrollment Runs
Aetna has designated 123 Medicare Advantage plans across 33 states as non-commissionable for 2027, meaning brokers earn nothing for placing new members in those plans during the current enrollment window, which closes December 7.
By the Goodsurance editorial teamOctober 28, 2026
During Medicare's annual enrollment period, running through December 7, 2026, Aetna has removed broker commissions from 123 of its Medicare Advantage plans across 33 states. The move affects plans in roughly 780 counties, with about one-fifth of those counties located in Georgia. Aetna also extended the freeze to standalone Part D prescription drug plans, so brokers earn nothing for enrolling new members in those products either. Some plans became non-commissionable on September 15; others follow on January 1, 2027.
When a carrier marks a plan non-commissionable, nothing changes for existing or prospective enrollees in terms of benefits, networks, or premiums. The plan stays visible on Medicare Plan Finder. What changes is the broker's financial incentive. Agents who earn nothing from a sale have little reason to present that plan to a shopper, which can quietly steer new enrollment away from those options without a formal market exit.
Aetna zeroed out broker pay on 123 Medicare Advantage plans during open enrollment. Those plans still exist. They just may not come up if you use a broker.
Aetna's move continues a pattern that took hold in prior enrollment cycles. UnitedHealthcare, Elevance Health, Cigna, and Blue Shield of California all removed commissions from some plans during the 2025 and 2026 cycles. Carriers have pointed to rising medical costs and pressure on margins, with PPO plans, which generally cost more to operate than HMOs, drawing the most commission cuts.
For Medicare beneficiaries working with a broker or agent during the current enrollment window, the consumer implication is direct. A plan that does not come up in a sales conversation may still be the strongest match for a given situation. Medicare's Plan Finder at medicare.gov allows anyone to compare all available plans independently.
In plain words
During open enrollment, Aetna stopped paying brokers to sign people up for 123 of its Medicare plans in 33 states. The plans are not canceled. They are still available. But a broker who earns nothing on a plan has little reason to bring it up. This means some good plans may not come up when you talk to a broker. You can see all plans on Medicare.gov and compare them yourself. Other big insurance companies have done the same thing in past years.
Understand the basics first
Source: Becker's Payer
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