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AEP 2027 deep dive · Day 2 of 71 / 5

2027 Deep Dive: Worldwide emergency

UnitedHealthcare dropped it. Others kept it.

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By Mike Zehrer · Plan years 2025–2027 · AEP 2027 · Part 2 of 7

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Worldwide Emergency Deep Dive2 / 5

UnitedHealthcare dropped worldwide coverage: 97% → 0% of its plans.

20262027% of plans with worldwide emergency coverage
Humana
99.9%
99.9%
UnitedHealthcare
96.8%
0.4%
Devoted
100%
100%
Aetna (CVS)
99.4%
99.2%
Elevance (Anthem)
98.6%
98.7%
Centene (Wellcare)
100%
100%
HCSC
98.6%
100%
Kaiser
98.4%
98.3%
% of plans with worldwide emergency coverage. Select a column heading to sort.
Humana99.9%99.9%
UnitedHealthcare96.8%0.4%
Devoted100%100%
Aetna (CVS)99.4%99.2%
Elevance (Anthem)98.6%98.7%
Centene (Wellcare)100%100%
HCSC98.6%100%
Kaiser98.4%98.3%
Bars share one scale, 0 to 100%. Hover, tap or focus a row for exact values and the change.

Largest carriers by 2027 plan count. All MA plans except Cost, PFFS and MSA, counted by plan segment. Source: CMS PBP and MA Landscape, 2025–2027.

Worldwide Emergency Deep Dive3 / 5

6.1 million UnitedHealthcare members are in plans that dropped it.

UHC members affected

6.1M

Sept 2026 enrollment

UHC plans that kept it

3

of 850, from 817 in 2026

Other carriers with it

95%

of plans, same as 2026

Members = Sept 2026 CPSC enrollment in 675 returning UHC plans that dropped it. Source: CMS PBP, Landscape, CPSC.

Explore the data4 / 5

Every state, ranked.

Share with worldwide emergency coverage, 2027. All MA plans in the source study. Select a state to see it on the map and every carrier there.

Arizona: 80.4%Louisiana: 79%Idaho: 61.4%Minnesota: 66%North Dakota: Fewer than 20 plansSouth Dakota: 68.2%New York: 81.7%Alaska: Not reportedGeorgia: 83.8%Indiana: 80.7%Michigan: 90.6%Mississippi: 80.4%Ohio: 80%Texas: 74.5%Nebraska: 68.8%Colorado: 75%Maryland: 61.7%Kansas: 77.6%Illinois: 80.6%Wisconsin: 69.3%California: 84.3%Iowa: 63.5%Pennsylvania: 89.9%Montana: 95%Missouri: 77.9%Florida: 87.3%Kentucky: 79.5%Maine: 78%Utah: 70.6%Oklahoma: 73.4%Tennessee: 80.7%Oregon: 80%West Virginia: 78.3%Arkansas: 84%Washington: 73.9%North Carolina: 75.8%Virginia: 73.1%Wyoming: Fewer than 20 plansAlabama: 83.2%South Carolina: 83.3%New Mexico: 45.9%New Hampshire: 65%Vermont: Fewer than 20 plansNevada: 79.6%Hawaii: 76.1%Massachusetts: 82.5%Rhode Island: 54.5%New Jersey: 78.9%Delaware: 73.7%Connecticut: 81.2%District of Columbia: Fewer than 20 plans
40%100%

Gray: fewer than 20 plans, or no value

Highest

Puerto Rico

100%

Lowest: New Mexico, 45.9%

Select a state to see every carrier there: its plans, and how many have worldwide emergency coverage.

47 states and territories with a reported value

Fewer than 20 plans, so not ranked (select on the map to see carriers): District of Columbia, North Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming. No reported value: Alaska. Puerto Rico appears in this list; the map projection omits it. CMS PBP and MA Landscape, 2026–2027. All plan segments; a plan counts in every state it serves.

Worldwide Emergency Deep Dive5 / 5

So what?

Why cut it? The cost is likely pennies.

I'm not an actuary, but I'd estimate worldwide coverage costs a plan well under $1 PMPM, likely a few nickels. Members who travel abroad also tend to be active and in good health, a group plans usually work to attract and keep.

What we’re watching: whether frequent travelers move away from UnitedHealthcare.

For agents: if you aren't already offering travel insurance, it may matter more now than ever. Clients who travel abroad will want a plan for coverage outside the U.S.

PMPM = per member per month. Cost estimate is a rough, non-actuarial assumption.