UnitedHealth, Aetna dump Medicare members, Humana grows

Bob Herman covers health insurance, government programs, hospitals, physicians, and other providers — reporting on how money influences those businesses and shapes what we all pay for care. He is also the author of the Health Care Inc. newsletter. You can reach Bob on Signal at bobjherman.09.

The Medicare Advantage program continues to bring in more older adults and people with disabilities, but not nearly at the same rates from just a few years ago.

Almost 35.5 million people were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan as of Feb. 1, up roughly 3% from 34.4 million at the same time in 2025, according to new federal data analyzed by STAT. The growth during Medicare’s annual enrollment window, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, stagnated — with enrollment increasing just 1%.

By comparison, annual enrollment growth in Medicare Advantage ranged between 7% and 10% between 2017 and 2024, according to historical data analysis by STAT.