What Providence announced

Providence Health Plan confirmed it will fully exit its Medicare Advantage business after failing to reach an agreement to sell the line to a national carrier. The health plan had been in discussions with a carrier interested in taking over its Medicare Advantage operations, but the parties could not finalize a deal.

This follows Providence's broader announcement in May 2026, when the nonprofit health system said it would exit its Medicaid, Affordable Care Act, and employer-sponsored plans for 2027 while working to keep Medicare Advantage running under a new partner. That partnership did not materialize, so Medicare Advantage is now part of the closure as well.

More than 64,000 Medicare Advantage members are affected. Providence's broader exit also affects more than 260,000 commercial members and more than 58,000 Medicaid enrollees, most of them in Oregon.

Who's most likely to be affected

The closure hits Medicare Advantage members enrolled through Providence Health Assurance, concentrated in Oregon, with smaller numbers in Washington, California, and Montana. Individual and Family plan members and employer group plan members are also affected, along with Medicaid enrollees, though Medicaid coverage is expected to continue through Health Share of Oregon's coordinated care organization into 2027.

None of that guarantees your specific plan is affected, or unaffected. The only way to know for certain is to check.

Why is this happening?

Providence CEO Erik Wexler has said that changes in state and federal regulation have made it increasingly difficult for a regional, nonprofit health plan to compete with larger national carriers, which have consolidated significantly and gained the scale to operate more efficiently.

Providence's insurance business had an estimated 660,000 members and reportedly lost more than $100 million in 2025. That's part of a wider pattern among regional nonprofit plans: roughly 72% reported an operating loss in 2025, up from 57% in 2023, as medical costs outpaced premium growth across commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid lines.

Providence isn't alone. Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Centene, and Molina have announced Medicare Advantage cuts for 2027, and industry-wide, well over a million members are expected to need a new plan.

How to find out if you're affected

Providence has said it will share more details with members and the public as it's able to under applicable regulations, and its status update page is the best place to check for the latest. Affected members should also expect a formal non-renewal notice required under federal rules.

If you're not sure which applies to you, don't wait for the mail. You can call Providence directly, or The Medicare Store can look into it for you and confirm your plan's status at no charge.

Key dates to know

  • August 2026: Providence confirmed the Medicare Advantage sale fell through and the plans will close.
  • Through the end of the 2026 plan year: current Medicare Advantage members should keep uninterrupted coverage.
  • October 15 to December 7, 2026: Annual Enrollment Period, when you can choose a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for coverage starting January 1, 2027.
  • December 31, 2026: Individual and Family plans terminate, and Medicare Advantage coverage is expected to end for the 2027 plan year.
  • December 8, 2026 to February 28, 2027: Special Enrollment Period opens for anyone whose plan was discontinued, in case you miss the AEP window.
  • January 1, 2027: New coverage begins. If no new plan is selected, members are automatically moved to Original Medicare.

Bottom line

If you have Providence Medicare Advantage and it's going away in 2027, don't worry, because you'll still be able to enroll in a new plan.

If you want help comparing plans or finding coverage that fits you better, book an appointment with our team of licensed insurance agents and we'll help you find new Medicare Advantage or Supplement coverage before your Providence plan ends.