Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans Closure 2026: What Seniors Need to Know

Introduction

One of the most significant Medicare changes this year is the closure of plans by Aetna Medicare Advantage. CVS Health’s Aetna is ending almost 90 Medicare Advantage plans in 34 states in response to an industry-wide shift in the wake of higher health care costs and difficult profitability prospects. Knowing your choices now can help ensure a smooth 2026 transition if you currently participate in an impacted plan.

Aetna is Turning Down Medicare Advantage Plans for 2026 – Why?

Medical expenses, utilization and profitability are the main reasons Aetna is pulling out almost 90 Medicare Advantage plans. The majority of plans being phased out are Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, which are more flexible for members, but also more costly for insurers to administer.

The company also announced that it will no longer pay broker commissions on new enrollments into affected plans after Sept., and will only pay plan commissions for existing enrollments.

Aetna is not the only insurer to take such action. This year, major insurance companies such as UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Aetna have all cut back on their Medicare Advantage presence in 2026 to better adapt to shifting market dynamics.

Which States and Counties Will Be Impacted?

Aetna will keep providing Medicare Advantage plans in 43 states, down from 44 states in 2025, for 2026. This year, 2,159 counties will receive coverage, up 100 counties from last year.

Some Key Areas Impacted Include:

• Several plans are being phased out in Pennsylvania.
• Aetna is going to exit most of New Hampshire counties – Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Grafton, Merrimack, Strafford and Sullivan.

This will allow Aetna’s Medicare Advantage plans to be offered to around 57 million Medicare eligible beneficiaries, compared with some 59 million in 2025.

How Many Seniors Will Be Impacted?

Analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) shows that approximately 13% of Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan (MA-PD) beneficiaries would be losing their current Medicare Advantage plans in 2026.

This works out to approximately 2.6 million beneficiaries across the country who will have to choose a new coverage.

There is a lot going on in the Medicare Advantage industry as a whole.

In what’s becoming a nationwide trend among insurers, UnitedHealthcare has said it’s impacted by plan cuts in more than 600,000 of its members.

If Your Aetna Plan is Closing, What Should You Do?

Action is critical when your plan is to be discontinued.

Important Steps Include:

• Check your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) (should receive by September 30).
• Thoroughly research Medicare Advantage plans available in your area.
• Think about whether Original Medicare might be a better choice for you.
• Go to Medicare.gov or call a licensed Medicare counselor.
• If your health plan is getting ready to end, use your Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to enroll.

Aetna will not automatically enroll you into another Medicare Advantage plan.

You will need to make a specific selection of the coverage you will have after the end of your term.

Despite Plan Closures, Aetna is Adding Some Benefits

Aetna is dropping dozens of plans but also adding a number of specialized Medicare products.

For 2026:

• Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs): Will be available in 18 states, including 16 new markets.
• Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) will be offered in 119 more counties.

Many of These Plans Include Attractive Benefits Such As:

• $0 primary care copays
• Tier 1 and Tier 2 prescription drug copays of $0.Copay for Tier 1 and Tier 2 prescription drugs of $0.
• Extra Benefits Cards for groceries, utilities, transportation and personal care items.
• No cost sharing for preventative care such as colon cancer screening or mammograms
• Access to free coverage of vaccines through in-network pharmacies

Why is Medicare Advantage Insurance Insurers Retreating?

Higher healthcare utilization and reimbursement worries have been putting pressure on the Medicare Advantage market.

Insurers say that the payments made by the government have not always been commensurate with the cost.

Meanwhile, they are rethinking the generous supplemental benefits that began to be widespread in recent years.

While the federal government has authorized a rate increase greater than 5% for 2026, most insurers are also keen to bolster margins and lower exposure in less lucrative markets.

Alternative Medicare Plans After Aetna Plan Closure

If you are enrolling in an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan that is shutting down, there are a few options for you:

• Join another Medicare Advantage plan.
• Opt for an Original Medicare plan.Choose Original Medicare.
• Enroll in a Medigap policy and prescription drug coverage (Part D)
• Consider Special Needs Plans (SNPs) if applicable

Keep in mind that Medicare Open Enrollment for 2026 coverage is from October 15 to December 7, 2025.

Bottom Line

Nearly 90 plans in 34 states will be impacted by the Aetna Medicare Advantage plans closure 2026, primarily when it comes to PPO plans. There are 2.6 million beneficiaries nationwide in need of new coverage, so it’s important to sit down early and explore your coverage options.

Aetna is shrinking its footprint in certain counties but is continuing to grow its Aetna C-SNP and D-SNP plans that offer higher benefits and $0 copay.

Be alert for Announcement of Change (ANOC) and plan accordingly when you enroll to prevent coverage “gaps.