Medicare Advantage in 2027: What's Changing in Washington, Oregon, Connecticut and New York
Every fall, the same question lands in my inbox: "Is my Medicare Advantage plan changing?" This year, for a lot of people, the answer is yes. Here's a clear-eyed look at what's happening for 2027, nationally and in the four states where I work.
The big picture: more money for plans, but a shifting market
In April, CMS finalized a 2.48% average payment increase for Medicare Advantage plans in 2027, worth more than $13 billion. That was a surprise: the January proposal had been nearly flat at 0.09%. CMS also held off on a risk adjustment overhaul that would have trimmed payments.
You might expect that to mean stability. In practice, it's more nuanced. A national average doesn't tell you what a specific carrier will do in a specific county, and many carriers are still trimming their footprints:
At least 11 insurers are leaving the individual Medicare Advantage market entirely for 2027, up from seven last year. Most are health-system-owned plans.
Large national carriers are pulling plans from hundreds of counties, with many of the cuts concentrated in PPOs.
Reports estimate that at least 3.8 million people will have to find new coverage.
The average Medicare Advantage premium is projected to drop to about $12 a month, but individual plans vary, and benefits and networks matter more than the premium alone.
CMS also finalized a leaner Star Ratings system for 2027, removing 11 measures that mostly tracked administrative processes like call center performance and appeals speed. The ratings you see will reflect somewhat different criteria than in the past.
What I'm watching in each state
Washington and Oregon: Providence. This is the headline story in the Pacific Northwest. Providence Health Plan is winding down its insurance business, including Medicare Advantage, after a planned sale of that business to a national carrier fell through. More than 64,000 members across Oregon, Washington and California will need new coverage for 2027, including roughly 55,000 in Oregon. Their plans run through December 31, 2026.
A second, separate change: Providence's hospitals and providers are leaving UnitedHealthcare's individual Medicare Advantage network in Oregon and Washington on January 1, 2027. Those two events are easy to confuse. One is an insurer leaving; the other is a doctor-and-hospital network change. If you see Providence providers, it's worth confirming which plans they will still accept next year. Kaiser Permanente is also trimming a few Washington counties and dropping its remaining PPOs, though it remains in the state.
Connecticut: Molina's exit. Molina Healthcare is discontinuing its standard individual Medicare Advantage drug plans for 2027, focusing instead on dual-eligible products. In Connecticut, Molina's offerings have been sold under the ConnectiCare name, and local brokers estimate about 48,000 Connecticut residents are affected. If you're on one of these plans, you should expect a non-renewal notice and will need to choose something new.
New York: smaller plans and special needs plans in flux. MJHS Health System's Elderplan is leaving the standard individual market, though it will continue some special needs plans. It has about 27,000 Medicare Advantage enrollees in the state. A smaller plan, iCircle, is also exiting a dual-eligible special needs plan across 14 New York counties. Upstate, carriers have been reshaping their offerings as well, so it's worth confirming that your current plan still exists before assuming it will renew.
Important dates
Mid-to-late fall: Non-renewal letters go out to people whose plans are ending. Keep yours; it documents your enrollment rights.
October 15 – December 7: Annual Enrollment Period for coverage starting January 1.
December 8 – February 28: If your plan is being discontinued, you generally get an additional Special Enrollment Period.
January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment lets current Medicare Advantage members switch plans or return to Original Medicare.
The bottom line
Medicare Advantage isn't going away, but the landscape is being redrawn, and "set it and forget it" is risky advice this year. Whether you're staying put, switching, or facing a plan that's ending, a review of your 2027 options before December 7 is time well spent.
If you'd like a second set of eyes on your plan, I'm happy to help. I'm a licensed independent agent serving Washington, Oregon, Connecticut and New York, and a review is free.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not individualized advice. Plan details vary by county, and I represent only certain carriers. Please contact 1-800-MEDICARE or your state SHIP for unbiased counseling.
