CVS Health announced it will exit the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance market in 2026, leaving roughly 1 million Aetna members across 17 states without coverage.
At the same time, the company faces mounting challenges tied to pharmacy closures, raising concerns about the creation of “pharmacy deserts” in vulnerable communities.
CVS exits Obamacare plans in 2026
CVS Health, which owns Aetna, confirmed on May 1 that it will withdraw from the ACA’s individual exchange business next year. Affected members will need to select new insurance plans during the 2026 open enrollment period.
“This decision is consistent with others taken this year to focus the company’s portfolio,” CVS said in a statement. “We will continue to deliver superior service through 2025 and handle residual activities in 2026.”
The impacted states are:
- Arizona
- California
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Maryland
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
Although the change affects a small portion of CVS’s 27.1 million total medical members, the shift reflects broader cost-cutting measures amid rising healthcare expenses.
Pharmacy closures to worsen access issues
Separately, CVS Health plans to close more than 20 pharmacy locations in Arkansas starting in 2026, driven by a new state law banning Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) from owning retail pharmacies.
David Joyner, CVS CEO, warned the closures could severely restrict access to care for thousands of patients.
“There’s over 300,000 people that we currently serve with more than 4 million prescriptions,” Joyner said. “It’s going to create pharmacy deserts and access problems.”
Nationally, CVS is wrapping up a three-year plan to close 900 stores by the end of 2025. The company has already shut down 851 locations since the plan was announced in 2021, focusing on shifting retail strategies toward healthcare services.
What’s driving the changes?
Experts cite several factors fueling CVS’s strategic pivot:
- Rising healthcare costs across insurance and pharmacy operations.
- Regulatory pressures, such as Arkansas’ PBM law.
- Shifting consumer buying patterns favoring online and telehealth services.
- Competitive market forces, including price increases tied to new pharmaceutical tariffs.
Despite store closures and insurance exits, CVS reported nearly $1.8 billion in net income during the first quarter of 2025, signaling a broader corporate turnaround.
“As we aim to be the most trusted healthcare company in America, we are driving greater care, value, and service across our integrated businesses,” Joyner said during the earnings call.
Other pharmacy chains also impacted
CVS is not alone in reshaping its footprint. Walgreens plans to close 500 stores, and Rite Aid continues to close locations amid bankruptcy restructuring.
Health experts warn the continued consolidation and closures could worsen access for low-income and rural Americans, particularly in areas already underserved.
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