UnitedHealth Group is reducing its Medicare Advantage plans in 2026, withdrawing from 109 counties across 16 U.S. states. This change will affect 180,000 policyholders who previously held UnitedHealth Medicare Advantage coverage. The changes go into effect in January 2026. UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Cuts for 2026 & 2027 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Is Shrinking in 2026 & 2027: Written By: Mark Prip UnitedHealthcare has been shrinking its Medicare Advantage business since 2025, and that story is now extending into 2027. It started with UnitedHealthcare announcing plans to exit Medicare Advantage products that served more than 600,000 members going into 2026. Since then, the company's own enrollment projections have grown well past that number, and a new report shows it's already considering additional county exits for 2027. Here's the full timeline, what it actually means if you have a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan, and what to watch for this fall. Quick answer: UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage enrollment is expected to shrink by roughly 1.1 million members during 2026, after starting with a targeted exit affecting plans that served over 600,000 people. A newer report from Modern Healthcare shows UnitedHealthcare is now considering exiting 34 counties across 12 states for 2027, which could affect more than 20,000 additional members — though the company says that list is still preliminary. If your plan is discontinued or leaves your service area, you may qualify for Medigap guaranteed-issue rights, depending on the circumstances. What we know: UnitedHealthcare expects its overall Medicare Advantage enrollment to decline by roughly 1.1 million members during 2026. Modern Healthcare reports that a preliminary 2027 list includes possible exits from 34 counties in 12 states. What we don't know yet: That 2027 county list