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September 9 update: Medicare Advantage exit confirmed
Providence Medicare Advantage coverage continues through December 31, 2026, and will not be offered in 2027.
Existing Medicare Supplement policies remain active for members in good standing. This does not mean Providence hospitals or clinics are closing.
What Providence announced
In a producer communication received September 9, 2026, Providence confirmed that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved withdrawal of its 2027 Medicare Advantage bid. Providence said it could not reach a sale agreement with another carrier and will cease Medicare Advantage operations at the end of 2026. Current members retain coverage through December 31, 2026.
The same communication says existing Medicare Supplement policies remain active for members in good standing. Those plans have been closed to new sales since July 1, 2026. Providence reported no additional Supplement changes at this time.
Providence Health Plan announced that it will transition out of most health insurance lines beginning in 2027. The company's August 20 update says individual and family policies will be discontinued effective January 1, 2027, and will not be offered in 2027 or later.
The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner separately reported that Providence Health Plan, which had 254 individual-market enrollees in Washington, will not offer individual coverage in the state for 2027. That makes this a confirmed Washington change with direct relevance for any Spokane-area member who is currently covered by Providence.
Providence also says small-group plans will end at the end of 2026. Large-group, self-funded, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplement arrangements have different transition details and should not be described as one blanket cancellation.
Confirmed
What is ending or changing
- Providence confirms CMS approved withdrawal of its 2027 Medicare Advantage bid. Medicare Advantage operations will end after 2026, and current member coverage remains in effect through December 31, 2026.
- Existing Providence Medicare Supplement policies remain active for members in good standing. New Medicare Supplement sales have been closed since July 1, 2026.
- Individual and family policies will be discontinued effective January 1, 2027.
- Washington's insurance regulator confirms Providence Health Plan will not offer individual coverage in the state for 2027.
- Providence says small-group plans will end at the end of 2026, with advance notice to employer group sponsors.
Still pending or plan-specific
What remains uncertain
- Providence will provide additional transition information, timelines, and resources. Members should keep their official notices for instructions that apply to their coverage.
- Some large-group or employer arrangements may continue into 2027, so employees should rely on information from their employer.
- A replacement plan's provider network, prescriptions, premium, deductible, and out-of-pocket costs cannot be assumed before 2027 options are released.
What this means for Spokane and Eastern Washington
Providence is both a health system and the name of an insurance company. This announcement concerns Providence Health Plan's insurance business. It does not, by itself, say that Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Holy Family Hospital, or other Providence providers are closing.
If you select different coverage for 2027, check the new plan's network rather than assuming a Providence doctor or facility will be in network. Also compare your prescriptions, pharmacies, premium, deductible, copays, and maximum out-of-pocket cost before enrolling.
What members should do next
- 1. Identify your coverage type. An individual or family plan, small-employer plan, large-employer plan, Medicare Advantage plan, and Medicare Supplement policy do not follow the same transition rules.
- 2. Keep every Providence notice. Your written notice and employer communication will provide the terms that apply to your specific policy.
- 3. Prepare a comparison list. Write down your doctors, facilities, prescriptions, pharmacies, and expected medical needs before reviewing replacement coverage.
- 4. Use the correct enrollment window. Medicare Annual Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Follow your plan's notices for any additional enrollment rights and deadlines. Washington's 2027 individual-market open enrollment runs from November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027. Enrollment must be completed by December 31 for January 1 coverage.
- 5. Do not cancel 2026 coverage early. Providence says current coverage continues through 2026; changing or canceling it prematurely could create an avoidable gap.
Individual or family coverage
Review our Spokane guide for comparing networks, prescriptions, costs, and financial-help eligibility before 2027 enrollment opens.
Individual and family health insurance help →Medicare coverage
If you have Providence Medicare Advantage, prepare to review replacement coverage for January 1, 2027. Gather your doctors, prescriptions, and pharmacies now, then compare available 2027 options during the applicable enrollment period. Existing Providence Supplement members should not assume their policies are ending.
Providence Medicare Advantage network guide →Prepare for a Medicare plan review →Common questions
Is Providence Health Plan completely shutting down in Washington?
Providence is leaving most insurance lines, but the timing and outcome differ by coverage type. Individual and family coverage is confirmed to end after 2026, as is Medicare Advantage. Existing Medicare Supplement policies remain active for members in good standing. Some employer arrangements have separate terms.
Are Providence Medicare Advantage plans ending in 2027?
Yes. Providence's producer communication received September 9, 2026, confirms CMS approval of its withdrawal. Providence Medicare Advantage will cease operations at the end of 2026 and will not be offered in 2027. Current member coverage remains in effect through December 31, 2026.
Are existing Providence Medicare Supplement policies ending too?
Providence says existing policies remain active for members in good standing. Medicare Supplement plans closed to new sales on July 1, 2026. The September 9 communication does not announce termination of existing Supplement policies.
Does the announcement mean Providence hospitals are closing?
No. The announcement concerns Providence Health Plan's insurance lines. It is separate from the operation of Providence hospitals, clinics, and medical practices.
Sources reviewed
- Providence Health Plan producer communication received September 9, 2026 — reviewed by our agency for CMS approval, the December 31 Medicare Advantage coverage end date, and continuation of existing Medicare Supplement policies. This is newer than the August wording on the public status page reviewed for this update.
- Providence Health Plan's official coverage transition update for the company's confirmed and pending changes by coverage type.
- Medicare.gov Open Enrollment for the October 15 through December 7 enrollment period and January 1 effective date.
- Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner's 2027 individual-market announcement for Providence's confirmed Washington exit and statewide enrollment context.
- Washington Healthplanfinder's 2027 enrollment dates for the November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027, enrollment window.
Independent local reporting
Health Insurance Options LLC is not affiliated with Providence Health Plan or Providence. This page provides general information and does not recommend any specific health insurance or Medicare plan.
Update log
— Updated from Providence's producer communication confirming CMS approval and the end of Medicare Advantage operations after 2026. Clarified that existing Medicare Supplement policies remain active for members in good standing and new sales closed July 1, 2026.
— Updated the Medicare Advantage section to match Providence's August 20 status page and removed earlier wording about a possible carrier agreement that no longer appears in the official update.
— Published with Washington individual-market changes marked confirmed and Medicare details marked pending.