Medicare Plan Being Discontinued?
If you have Medicare Advantage, it's especially important to review your coverage this year. Please read your ANOC, Annual Notice of Change. Several insurance companies, like Humana and HealthSpring, are discontinuing plans or changing the areas they serve for 2027. If your plan is affected, you may need to choose new coverage. The good news is that you have options. The right choice depends on your doctors, prescriptions, budget, and the type of coverage you prefer.
If you have Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan, remember that drug plans can terminate, change their premiums, deductibles, covered medications, and pharmacy arrangements from year to year.
Option 1: Choose Another Medicare Advantage Plan
You can compare available Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Depending on where you live, you may be able to choose another plan from your current insurance company or enroll with a different carrier. When comparing plans, consider:
Doctors and hospitals: Are yours in the plan's network?
Prescription coverage: Are your medications covered, and what will they cost?
Monthly premiums: Is there a plan premium in addition to your Part B premium?
Out-of-pocket costs: Copayments, deductibles, maximum out-of-pocket limit?
Extra benefits: What dental, vision, hearing, fitness, or other benefits are included?
Plan rules: Required referrals or prior authorization for certain services?
Don't choose a plan based on its premium or extra benefits alone. A plan that looks attractive on paper may not be the best fit if your doctors are out of network or your prescriptions cost more.
Option 2: Consider Original Medicare With a Medicare Supplement
Another option is to return to Original Medicare and explore a Medicare Supplement, also called Medigap. However, there is an important consideration: losing your Medicare Advantage plan does not automatically guarantee that you can purchase any Medicare Supplement policy without medical underwriting. Certain federal and state protections may give you guaranteed-issue rights, like NY, CT, ME and MA, depending on your circumstances, and if you have had continuous coverage other than only Original Medicare. Other situations may require you to answer health questions or meet the insurer's underwriting requirements. Before leaving Medicare Advantage, make sure you understand whether you can obtain the Medicare Supplement coverage you want and what it will cost. Medicare Supplements are usually higher in premium cost than Medicare Advantage Plans.
Option 3: Review Your Prescription Drug Coverage
If your current Part D plan is being discontinued, you'll need to review the available alternatives. Even if your drug plan is continuing, comparing your options may help you find coverage that better meets your needs for 2027.
When Can You Make Changes?
The Medicare Annual Election Period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026.
During this period, you can generally:
Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
Leave Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare.
Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage.
Join, change, or drop a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan if you have Original Medicare.
Changes made during this period generally take effect on January 1, 2027
What if you miss the deadline? If your Medicare Advantage plan is ending and you don't select a replacement, you will generally return to Original Medicare when the plan terminates. You may also need to arrange separate prescription drug coverage. Depending on the circumstances of your plan's termination, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period that provides additional time to make certain changes. Check your termination notice to understand which protections and deadlines apply to you.
Don't Wait Until December to Review Your Coverage
Need Help Reviewing Your Medicare Options?
ABC Medicare Plans Broker
Diane Andree 631-337-3625
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