UnitedHealthcare and Aetna are changing their Medicare Advantage offerings for 2027, with more plans expected to use narrower provider networks as insurers respond to rising medical costs and increased healthcare utilization.

UnitedHealthcare said it will pull back from some locations where preferred provider organization (PPO) plans are heavily used. Aetna is expanding health maintenance organization (HMO) plans, which generally rely on smaller networks of doctors and healthcare providers. Humana has also announced plans to reduce its county coverage for 2027.

The changes come as Medicare Advantage enrollment is projected to reach about 34 million people in 2027. At the same time, CMS projects the average monthly Medicare Advantage premium will fall from $14.37 in 2026 to $12 in 2027, a decrease of 16.5%.

For beneficiaries, the changing provider networks could make it important to check whether their doctors, hospitals, specialists and other healthcare providers remain covered by their plan. Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026, giving beneficiaries an opportunity to compare available plans and coverage.

The developments highlight how Medicare Advantage plans, healthcare costs and provider networks are changing ahead of the 2027 coverage year.