STAT+: Medicare Advantage plans shift more costs onto seniors in 2027

Medicare Advantage enrollees who need care and prescriptions in 2027 face higher costs and reduced benefits, with insurers raising out-of-pocket expenses, drastically cutting dental and other benefits, and eliminating plans that have broad networks of hospitals and doctors, according to federal data released this week and analyzed by STAT and several investment firms.

The shifts could cause more shocks for older adults, such as discovering their doctor is no longer accepted by their plan, unless they shop carefully during Medicare's annual enrollment period for 2027 plans, which begins Oct. 15.

Large insurers like UnitedHealth Group and Humana are pruning benefits to chase higher profits after investors grew dissatisfied with margins that were smaller than the insurers had promised. The changes come even after the industry won a payment increase and delayed reforms from the Trump administration in April.