The Kentucky-based health insurer Humana announced on Thursday that approximately 20 percent, or 1.2 million, of its members are currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans rated 4 stars and above for 2026, down slightly from 2025, as reported by Reuters.
Humana said it wasn’t surprised by the findings but was still unhappy. The company also reported that 14 percent of its members were enrolled in 4.5-star plans in 2026, up from 3 percent in 2025. “Those improvements, however, were insufficient to overcome the change in industry thresholds,” Jim Rechtin, Humana’s President and CEO, said in a statement.
In a press release, Humana stated that in 2026, it will provide Medicare Advantage plans in 46 states and Washington, D.C., covering 85 percent of U.S. counties. New plan options will be available in four states and 177 counties, broadening geographical access to coverage.
However, CVS Health, Humana, and UnitedHealth Group announced on Wednesday that they will pull back on Medicare Advantage offerings next year, as the health insurance industry braces for further decreases in government reimbursement, as reported by Reuters. “CVS Health’s Aetna insurance business will operate prescription drug plans in 100 fewer U.S. counties than it did in 2025, and rival Humana will cut plans back to 85 percent of U.S. counties next year, down from 89 percent in 2025. UnitedHealth plans to stop operating plans in 109 U.S. counties, affecting about 180,000 people, the company said.”
