For millions of seniors, the promise of Medicare Advantage (Part C) was simple: lower premiums in exchange for staying within a network. In 2026, that bargain is breaking down. As insurers tighten reimbursement rates to protect their profits and hospitals face rising labor costs, a wave of “Contract Terminations” is sweeping the country.
This year, some of the most prestigious health systems in America have decided that the administrative burden and low pay of certain Medicare Advantage plans are no longer sustainable. They are walking away, leaving patients with a difficult choice: switch back to Original Medicare (which often costs more) or find a new doctor. If you live in one of these regions, your “in-network” hospital may have just gone “out-of-network” effective January 1, 2026.
1. Mayo Clinic (MN, WI, IA)
In perhaps the most high-profile exit of the year, Mayo Clinic has drastically reduced its participation in Medicare Advantage networks across the Midwest. Effective 2026, Mayo Clinic facilities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa are now out-of-network for most UnitedHealthcare and Humana individual Medicare Advantage plans. The system cited the administrative strain of prior authorizations as a key factor. If you want guaranteed access to Mayo’s specialists, you generally need Original Medicare + Medigap, as they continue to accept the federal government’s plan without restriction.
2. Mass General Brigham (Massachusetts)
New England’s largest health system has dropped two major carriers for 2026. Primary care providers at Mass General Brigham are no longer in-network with UnitedHealthcare or Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Medicare Advantage plans. This shift forces thousands of Boston-area seniors to either switch to a specific “Mass General Brigham Health Plan” or find new primary care doctors outside the system. The hospital argued that the insurers’ payment delays were making it impossible to sustain high-quality care.
3. Scripps Health (San Diego, CA)
While this dispute began boiling over last year, 2026 marks the finality of the split. Scripps Health has continued its policy of refusing most Medicare Advantage plans for its “Scripps Clinic” and “Scripps Coastal” medical groups. For 2026, even patients who thought they were “grandfathered” into certain arrangements are finding their access restricted. The system has aggressively encouraged patients to switch to Original Medicare if they wish to keep their doctors, stating that the “managed care” model of Advantage plans blocks necessary treatments too often.
4. UNC Health (North Carolina)
Seniors in North Carolina are facing a major disruption as UNC Health has gone out-of-network with Humana, WellCare (Centene), and Health Care Service Corp (HCSC) for 2026. This termination affects one of the largest networks in the state. UNC Health publicly stated that these specific insurers had denial rates that were dangerous for patient health. If you hold a Humana Gold card in the Triangle area, your access to UNC specialists is now considered “out-of-network,” likely carrying a prohibitive 40% coinsurance.
5. Mount Sinai (New York City)
In a major blow to New York retirees, Mount Sinai Health System has terminated its contract with Anthem (Elevance Health) Medicare Advantage plans for 2026. This dispute involves accusations of millions of dollars in unpaid claims. For seniors in Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs, this means that one of the city’s premier hospital chains is now off-limits for Anthem members, unless they are admitted through the Emergency Room (which is always covered federally).
6. Lehigh Valley Health Network (Pennsylvania)
For residents of Eastern Pennsylvania, the 2026 plan year brings the loss of Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) from the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage network. This split affects thousands of seniors who rely on LVHN for cardiology and oncology services. The system has advised patients that they must switch to a competitor plan like Aetna or Highmark Blue Shield. This is if they wish to remain in-network for non-emergency surgeries.
The “Original Medicare” Migration
Top-tier academic medical centers are tired of asking insurance companies for permission to treat patients. They are voting with their feet and leaving the Advantage networks. If your hospital is on this list—or if you received a “Contract Termination” letter—you have a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that allows you to change plans. However, this is also a wake-up call. The only card that is accepted by 99% of doctors and hospitals in America is the Original Medicare card. If keeping your doctor is your priority, 2026 might be the year to leave the “Advantage” behind.
Did your doctor tell you they no longer take your Humana or United card? Leave a comment below—let us know which state you are in!
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