CVS Health and Humana will pull back Medicare Advantage offerings next year, the companies said Wednesday. CVS’s Aetna will exit 100 counties and reduce coverage to 43 states plus D.C., while Humana will cut back from 89% to 85% of U.S. counties and drop from 48 to 46 states. Both insurers are exiting less profitable markets, even as they remain among the largest providers behind UnitedHealth. Despite the pullback, both companies are introducing changes: Humana will launch new plan types in four states and 177 counties, with 83% of its stand-alone prescription drug plans lowering premiums. CVS will expand dual Medicare-Medicaid plans for low-income Americans to 16 new states. Humana’s insurance president George Renaudin said the company remains focused on stability, quality, and affordability for Medicare beneficiaries.
