11 payers exiting Medicare Advantage in 2027

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Eleven payers are exiting the individual Medicare Advantage market for 2027, according to CMS data.

Seven of the eleven are owned entirely or in part by health systems. Several other payers will stay in MA next year only through special needs plans, including Molina Healthcare, Horizon BCBS New Jersey, New York City-based MJHS Health System’s Elderplan, and Albuquerque-based Presbyterian Health Plan. 

Braven Health, a New Jersey joint venture between Horizon, Edison-based Hackensack Meridian Health and West Orange-based RWJBarnabas Health, will also not offer individual MA plans in 2027, while still offering some special needs plans.

Here are the 11 payers exiting individual MA in 2027, listed by the number of counties they served in 2026:

  1. Wellmark BCBS offered plans in 98 Iowa counties and 43 South Dakota counties.

  2. BCBS Mississippi offered plans in 26 Mississippi counties through Patrius Health, its joint venture with BCBS Alabama. BCBS Alabama will continue to offer MA plans in its home state.

  3. BCBS North Dakota offered plans in all 53 of the state’s counties. In January, the insurer affiliated with Cambia Health Solutions. A spokesperson said the company would share more details of its 2027 Medicare portfolio on Oct. 1.

  4. Irving, Texas-based Christus Health Plan offered plans in 36 Texas counties and eight New Mexico counties.

  5. Wausau, Wis.-based Aspirus Health Plan offered plans in 21 Wisconsin counties.  In February, CMS suspended new MA enrollment into the health plan after its claims processor, UCare, was taken over by Minnesota regulators.

  6. Webster, N.Y.-based iCircle, an affiliate of CDS Life Transitions, offered a D-SNP in 14 New York counties.

  7. Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health Plan offered plans across six Oregon counties, six Washington counties and Orange County, Calif. The MA exit is part of the wider shutdown of the health plan.

  8. WellSense Health Plan, part of Boston Medical Center, offered plans in all 10 New Hampshire counties.

  9. Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health Plan offered plans in six Texas counties. In July, the plan confirmed it would also shut down its commercial business.

  10. Mass Advantage, part of Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health, offered plans in Worcester County.

  11. San Diego-based Sharp Health Plan offered plans in San Diego County.

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