UnitedHealth to exit Medicare Advantage plans in 109 US counties

By Amina NiasseNEW YORK (Reuters) -UnitedHealth said it will stop offering Medicare Advantage plans in 109 U.S. counties in 2026, impacting 180,000 members, as the company balances higher costs with reimbursement pressure in the insurance program. UnitedHealth is leaving the counties but will continue to operate in most states, he said in a Tuesday press briefing. The government pays private insurers to operate the Medicare Advantage plans for people 65 and older or with disabilities. The company attributed the first-quarter earnings miss to unexpected costs in its Medicare Advantage business as members increased use of medical services. It flagged in its second-quarter earnings release that closing certain plans with about 200,000 members could help mitigate the impact.