my doctor and health care.

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19. Patients scramble after AARP Medicare Advantage plans drop providers

Citrus County resident George Smith received a disturbing letter this month about his Medicare coverage. The AARP managed care network he had relied on for years will drop all eight of his and his wife's doctors as of Jan. 1.
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UnitedHealthcare is shrinking AARP networks and focusing on doctors, hospitals and clinics that will "enhance health plan quality, improve health care outcomes and curb the growth in health care costs,'' spokeswoman Jessica Pappas wrote Monday in an emailed response to the Times. Hospitals and doctors that "demonstrate the highest quality at the greatest value will be rewarded for their efforts.''
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Actually, the federal government announced this year it is increasing payments to Medicare Advantage plans 3.3 percent, while still pursuing the goal of eventually bringing the cost of Advantage plans down to those of original Medicare.

UnitedHealthcare believes that overall funding won't keep up with the growth in health care costs, Pappas wrote, and shrinking the network will help AARP plans maintain current benefits.
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This is a Tampa story, but it's nationwide. A pre-emptive strike against perceived Medicare shortfalls by United Health Care, here.