Learn what Humana’s 2027 Medicare Advantage plan exits could mean for about 600,000 members, why the company is making the change, and the exact 60-to-63-day Medigap window some affected members may want to use before it closes.
Your Medicare Plan May End – What to Check First
Humana Is Ending Some Medicare Advantage Plans for 2027: What to Check First
Hundreds of thousands of Humana Medicare Advantage members could open their mail this fall to a notice they weren’t expecting: the plan tied to their doctors, prescriptions, and everyday benefits will not be offered next year.
Humana said during its July 29, 2026 earnings call that targeted Medicare Advantage plan exits for 2027 are expected to affect about 600,000 members. That does not mean Humana is leaving Medicare Advantage, and it does not mean all 600,000 people will end up leaving Humana.
If your plan turns out to be one of the ones ending, the most valuable part of the official notice may be a temporary right that’s easy to miss — one that can matter most if a health problem would normally make it hard to buy a Medigap policy.
What Humana Announced
Humana expects to move a significant share of affected members into other Humana plans, similar to the little more than 40% it recaptured after its 2025 plan exits. Even so, a replacement plan carrying the Humana name should be treated as a new insurance contract, not an automatic continuation of the old one.
At this stage, the 600,000 figure is a national estimate. Humana has not published a complete list of every discontinued plan and county, so it can’t tell you whether your specific plan is affected. That answer will come through official plan materials as 2027 details are released — don’t cancel coverage or change doctors based on a headline alone.
Why Humana Is Ending These Plans
The decision comes after a period of strong growth — Humana added roughly 1.2 million individual Medicare Advantage members through the first half of 2026. But enrollment growth and profit aren’t the same thing. An insurer can gain members and still lose ground if medical costs, provider payments, benefits, and administrative expenses rise faster than the premium dollars coming in.
Humana says its 2027 strategy combines benefit adjustments, operating improvements, and targeted exits from plans with weaker returns, aimed at restoring a sustainable Medicare Advantage pretax margin of at least 3% by 2028. Its insurance benefit ratio was 91.2% in the second quarter — meaning about 91 cents of every premium dollar represented by that measure went toward covered benefits. Small percentage shifts like that add up to very large amounts across millions of members.
There’s also a federal payment debate behind the decision. Medicare Advantage plans are private plans paid by the federal government to deliver Medicare-covered services. Federal officials finalized an average 2.48% payment increase for 2027, before expected coding trend is counted. Insurers say medical costs can still rise faster than that funding; federal officials say accurate payments are necessary to protect both beneficiaries and taxpayers.
Star Ratings play a role too, since higher-rated contracts can qualify for quality bonus payments. Humana said most of the plans selected for exit were rated 3.5 stars or lower for the relevant bonus year — but cautioned this isn’t simply a Star Ratings story. Local medical costs, provider arrangements, benefit design, capital needs, and expected returns can all influence whether a plan stays, which is why two people with Humana coverage in neighboring counties could end up facing very different choices.
If Your Plan Is Ending, What Are Your Choices?
Suppose your plan really is ending on December 31. You’ll generally have two paths: choose another Medicare Advantage plan, either from Humana or a competitor, or return to Original Medicare.
If you return to Original Medicare, you may also need a separate Part D plan for outpatient prescriptions, and you may want a Medigap policy to help with deductibles, coinsurance, and other gaps. Original Medicare offers broad access to participating providers, but — unlike Medicare Advantage plans — it has no yearly out-of-pocket limit for Part A and Part B services, which is one reason that Medigap decision can matter so much.
The Medigap Guaranteed Issue Window You Could Miss
This is where a time-limited protection enters the picture. Medicare says that when a Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare or stops providing coverage in your area, you may have a federal guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap policies.
In general, you can apply beginning 60 days before your Advantage coverage ends and no more than 63 days after it ends. To use this particular right, you must switch to Original Medicare — not another Medicare Advantage plan.
Guaranteed issue does not mean free coverage. It generally means a Medigap insurer cannot reject you or charge you more because of past or present health problems while the protection applies. You’ll still pay the Medigap premium, keep paying your Part B premium, and usually need separate Part D coverage. Prices can vary by insurer, location, age, tobacco use, discounts, and the pricing rules allowed in your state.
Why This Temporary Right Can Matter So Much
Picture a 74-year-old with heart disease who left their original six-month Medigap enrollment period years ago. In many states, applying for Medigap later can involve medical underwriting, so an insurer might charge more or deny the application.
If that person’s Medicare Advantage plan is terminated, though, a guaranteed issue period may open a path to eligible Medigap coverage without a health screening. Choosing another Advantage plan first and looking into Medigap much later may not preserve that same protection.
Not Every Plan Change Creates This Right
Not every unwelcome change qualifies. A higher specialist copay, a smaller dental allowance, a formulary change, or a doctor leaving the network isn’t necessarily the same as the plan ending or leaving your area. State protections can also be broader than the federal minimum.
Before relying on any rule, confirm the exact event described in your notice with Medicare, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), or your state insurance department.
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How to Compare a Replacement Plan
If you’re offered another Advantage plan, compare it from the ground up. Check every doctor, specialist, hospital, and pharmacy you use, then check each prescription, its drug tier, any prior authorization rules, and your preferred pharmacy. Compare premiums, deductibles, copayments, and the annual out-of-pocket maximum — not just dental dollars or a fitness perk. A $0 premium can still lead to higher total spending if the services you actually use cost more.
For an Original Medicare option, add up the full monthly cost of Part B, Medigap, and Part D, then compare that total with the financial risk and network rules of Advantage coverage. Someone who travels often or sees many specialists may value the broader provider access. Someone else may prefer the lower premium and bundled extras of an Advantage plan with trusted local doctors. There’s no single correct answer for all 600,000 potentially affected members.
What to Do Before Enrollment Season Gets Noisy
Start with a simple coverage inventory. Write down your doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, preferred pharmacies, regular treatments, and the benefits you actually use.
When your official nonrenewal notice arrives, save it — a Medigap insurer may ask for proof that your coverage ended. Begin comparing options early, and if you apply for Medigap, confirm your acceptance and effective date before assuming the transition is complete.
Free, unbiased counseling is available through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and 1-800-MEDICARE can explain your federal enrollment rights. Your state insurance department can clarify any state-specific Medigap protections. A broker may help you compare products, but ask which companies they represent and how they’re paid — no broker necessarily offers every plan available in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Humana leaving Medicare Advantage?
No. Humana is exiting certain lower-return plans for 2027 — expected to affect about 600,000 members — but the company isn’t leaving Medicare Advantage, and it expects to move a significant share of affected members into other Humana plans.
How do I know if my Humana plan is one of the ones ending?
Wait for your official nonrenewal notice. Humana hasn’t published a complete public list of every discontinued plan and county, so the national estimate can’t tell you whether your specific plan is affected.
What is the Medigap guaranteed issue window?
It’s a federal protection that may apply when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare or stops covering your area. You can generally apply beginning 60 days before your coverage ends and no more than 63 days after it ends, but only if you switch to Original Medicare.
Does guaranteed issue mean my Medigap policy will be free?
No. It means an eligible insurer generally can’t reject you or charge you more because of your health. You still pay the Medigap premium, your Part B premium, and usually a separate Part D premium.
What if I pick another Medicare Advantage plan instead of Original Medicare?
You can do that, but you won’t use this particular guaranteed issue right — it only applies when you switch to Original Medicare. If you think you might want Medigap later, that’s worth weighing before you decide.
Where can I get free help comparing my options?
Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, unbiased counseling, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Your state insurance department can explain any additional state-specific protections.
Key Takeaway
Humana’s announcement is serious, but it isn’t a reason to panic or make a rushed switch. Watch for your official notice, evaluate any replacement as new coverage rather than a continuation of the old one, and verify whether a guaranteed issue Medigap window applies before choosing your path.
A discontinued plan takes away a familiar option. But careful action during the window you’re given can help you build coverage that still fits your doctors, your prescriptions, and your budget.
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Disclosure: We may receive a referral from Chapter if you choose to use their service. Chapter is a licensed health insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Money Instructor provides educational information only and does not offer tax, legal, insurance, or medical advice. Medicare rules, plan availability, and Medigap protections vary by state and may change. Please verify details with official sources such as Medicare.gov, your plan’s official notice, or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and consult a licensed insurance counselor before making coverage decisions.