2026 is shaking things up. Carriers are shifting networks, tweaking premiums, and dropping out of markets. Agents who stay ahead will win the enrollment game.
Carrier Change Cheat Sheet 2026
Availability Shifts Agents Should Note
Agents need to know where plans are expanding or exiting. For example, carriers are trimming their footprints. UnitedHealth is planning a major pullback, affecting roughly 600,000 Medicare Advantage members in 2026. Humana and CVS Health are also cutting benefits and dropping plans in unprofitable markets.
These changes mean plan names your clients expect might vanish or not be available where they live. Keep your quoting engine up to date to avoid dead ends mid conversation.
Always double check the latest availability for your primary counties. Sudden exits or new entries can be deal makers or deal breakers, especially when clients are asking about a familiar name. Keep a running list of which plans are coming and going in your region, and flag any carriers that have filed for withdrawal or major expansion.
Premium Variations You Can Leverage
CMS projects a 5.06 percent increase in Medicare Advantage plan payments for 2026. This is double earlier estimates and adds over twenty five billion dollars to the system. Some of that may flow directly into premiums or benefit retention
Use this context to frame client conversations. If their plan price jumps, explain the drivers and position yourself as the affordability guide. Always have examples ready. For instance, "This plan dropped twenty dollars per month since last year. That is two hundred forty dollars saved annually." Use real premium changes as value proof and motivators to review options.
Network Updates Agents Must Track
CMS is finalizing stricter appeals rules and new rules for Prescription Payment Plans, D SNPs, insulin caps, and vaccine coverage in 2026.
Carriers may react by adjusting networks around those services. Always validate provider directories manually. Even a small hospital addition or drop can make or break a sale. For example, BlueCross BlueShield added three hospital systems in one region, while Kaiser dropped two major hospitals in another. These changes can force clients to find a new doctor or hospital, or they might open up better choices they have never had before.
Never rely on last year’s provider directory. Agents should log into each carrier’s portal to pull the most current list. Even minor updates can impact a client’s decision, so make network check part of your standard prep for every sales conversation.
Real Changes for Plan Year 2026
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UnitedHealth is scaling back Medicare Advantage plans, impacting six hundred thousand members
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Humana and Aetna are trimming benefits or pulling out of certain markets
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CMS is raising Medicare Advantage reimbursements by 5.06 percent, boosting funding for plans
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Star ratings, D SNP rules, and new regulatory tweaks are changing plan designs and networks
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Premium increases and network changes are occurring in almost every state
Steer your pitch toward what is new, what is gone, and what you can still count on.
Technology Shifts: Digital Enrollment and Telehealth
Digital enrollment is now the baseline for competitive carriers in 2026. Major players are investing in frictionless quoting, one-click enroll, and automated document uploads. Telehealth remains a hot topic, with many carriers expanding their virtual visit benefits, especially in rural or underserved areas. Carriers like Aetna and Blue Shield are integrating telehealth networks directly into their plan offerings, making provider access easier for tech-savvy clients. For agents, this means highlighting not just which plans are available, but how they help clients connect to care—no matter where they live.
Supplemental Benefits: Expanding What’s Included
Carriers are battling for differentiation through richer supplemental benefits. Expect to see more plans adding dental, vision, hearing, and even meal delivery and transportation services as standard, not just as add-ons. Some are piloting “flex cards” that can be used for wellness expenses or over-the-counter items. Agents should stay alert to these benefit changes because they can be a deciding factor for clients weighing near-identical premiums and networks. An updated quote engine, like Quotit, will help you compare these extra perks at a glance.
Star Ratings and Quality Program Impacts
CMS star ratings remain central to plan design and carrier strategy. For 2026, several carriers have revamped their customer service, pharmacy benefits, and preventive care programs to boost their star scores. This can lead to some plans moving up to five stars (and thus, year-round enrollment opportunities), while others drop and become less attractive. Agents need to watch for ratings changes, as they impact both marketing opportunities and member retention strategies.
Regulatory and Compliance Updates
New CMS rules for 2026 are impacting the way carriers market and enroll members. Expect more rigorous verification of marketing activities, updated disclaimers for Third-Party Marketing Organizations, and clearer documentation around plan changes. Carriers are updating their agent training and compliance tools, so it’s important to refresh your certifications and revisit compliance checklists.
Why Agents Rely on Quotit’s Carrier Updates
When carriers change, you want systems that reflect those updates immediately. Quotit offers access to over three hundred carriers and more than forty thousand plan designs. All plan data and rates are refreshed regularly, so when UnitedHealth drops a county or premiums rise, Quotit pulls in the latest details. Your quotes and enrollments stay accurate without manual tracking, and you can always trust the information you are sharing with clients.
With this level of coverage, agents can quickly pivot when plans leave a region or new plans enter. Having a tool that shows every updated plan option makes your job easier and keeps your clients happy.
Ready for Takeoff: Stay Ahead This Enrollment Season
Track availability. Frame premiums. Spot network shifts. Use this cheat sheet and you will lead, not lag, during AEP.
Inside Quotit, you get full regional changes, live plan data, and quoting/enrolling tools all in one spot.
Be the agent who knows. Confident, updated, and ready to enroll.
Carrier changes handled without stress.
You stay sharp, clients stay happy.
2026 season is yours for the taking.
