Medicare Advantage plans are shutting down, leaving millions without coverage

Medicare chief Dr. Mehmet Oz speaks at an event announcing the artificial intelligence website, America.gov in Washington, D.C., last month. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

A slew of Medicare Advantage plans are disappearing for next year, leaving seniors in many areas with fewer options. In 193 counties across the country, no plans are offered at all.

Medicare's annual open enrollment period kicked off October 15 and runs until December 7, and seniors enrolled in those privatized Medicare plans that are closing in certain markets should carefully review their options.

Medicare Advantage means private insurers run Medicare for older Americans who choose it over traditional Medicare, where the federal government itself administers the program. More than half of the 70 million Americans in Medicare choose Medicare Advantage.…