Starting January 1, 2026, Mayo Clinic will no longer participate in most Medicare Advantage networks with United Healthcare and Humana. This is a major shift that will affect access to care for millions of Americans — especially those who depend on Mayo Clinic for specialized or ongoing treatment. Approximately 1.6 million Medicare Advantage members in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa will be affected, including over 780,000 enrollees in plans directly tied to these two insurers.
For those impacted, this could mean higher out-of-network costs or even the loss of access to Mayo Clinic altogether. It’s a significant change that underscores why it’s so important to review your plan annually and understand your healthcare options before open enrollment.
So, why is this happening? Like many hospitals, Mayo Clinic has faced rising costs and lower reimbursements from private insurance companies. Humana has argued that Mayo’s care costs are too high, while Mayo has stated that the reimbursement terms offered by Medicare Advantage plans simply don’t align with the quality of care and time they dedicate to each patient. In short, the relationship between major hospitals and insurance companies is strained — and Mayo isn’t the only one rethinking its network participation…