Every fall, some Medicare Advantage plans quietly decide not to come back. For 2027, millions of members are getting notices that their plan is changing, shrinking its service area or ending on December 31. If you have one of those letters, you have more choices than the letter suggests, and one deadline that is easy to miss. Here is how to sort it out without paying more than you have to.
1. Why Your Plan May Be Ending
Insurers review which counties and plan types are profitable each year. Reports this fall say large carriers such as UnitedHealthcare and Humana are trimming plans for 2027, and at least a million members will have to switch coverage. A plan can end entirely, leave your county, or drop your doctor or hospital from its network. Which one applies to you is spelled out in your notice.
2. Read the Notice Carefully
Plans that are not renewing are required to notify members before open enrollment, and reports say the deadline for these letters is around October 2. Keep the letter. It shows the date your coverage ends, and you may need it later to prove your right to buy a Medigap policy. Do not confuse it with the Annual Notice of Change, which describes changes to a plan that is staying.
3. Your Enrollment Windows at a Glance
| Window | Dates | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Enrollment Period | Oct 15 – Dec 7, 2026 | Switch Advantage plans, go to Original Medicare, change Part D. New coverage starts Jan 1, 2027. |
| Special Enrollment Period for a non-renewed plan | Reported as Dec 8, 2026 – end of Feb 2027 | Pick a new plan if you missed the main window. |
| Medigap guaranteed-issue window | Starts up to 60 days before coverage ends; lasts 63 days after | Buy certain Medigap policies without health questions. |
Dates for the special period can vary with your situation, so confirm yours at 1-800-MEDICARE or with your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
4. Two Paths: Another Advantage Plan or Original Medicare
Path A: choose a different Advantage plan. Use the Medicare Plan Finder, enter every medication and dose, and check that your doctors and hospital are in the network. Compare the maximum out-of-pocket limit, not just the monthly premium.
Path B: move to Original Medicare. You will usually want a stand-alone Part D drug plan and a Medigap policy. Premiums are higher up front, but you get a wider choice of doctors and more predictable bills.
5. The 63-Day Medigap Right
When your Advantage plan ends or leaves your area, federal rules give you a guaranteed-issue right: for a limited time, insurers must sell you certain Medigap policies, regardless of health history and without charging more for pre-existing conditions. Reported eligible plans include A, B, D, G, K and L, and C or F if you were eligible for Medicare before 2020. The right generally lasts 63 days after your coverage ends.
Outside that window, most states let insurers ask health questions and deny coverage, so the clock matters. A few states, such as New York and Connecticut, have more generous year-round rules. Check with your state insurance department.
6. Checklist Before You Decide
- Save the non-renewal letter and note the exact end date.
- List every prescription and dose, then price them in the Plan Finder for 2027.
- Confirm your doctors, specialists and preferred hospital are in network.
- Do not go 63 days or more without drug coverage that is at least as good as Medicare’s, or you may owe a lifelong Part D late penalty.
- If you choose Original Medicare, apply for Medigap inside the 63-day window.
- Call your SHIP for free, unbiased counseling before you sign anything.
If you are comparing prices, the free counselors at your SHIP do not sell plans and can walk through your list line by line. Doing that before December 7 can save hundreds of dollars over the year.
