Is Your Medicare Advantage Plan Leaving in 2027? How to Switch and Stay Covered Before Dec 7
Receiving a notice that your Medicare Advantage plan is ending, leaving your county, or changing for 2027 can feel stressful. You may have been happy with your plan, your doctors, and the way your benefits worked.
Still, plan exits and county changes can happen even when your current coverage has been a good fit.
The good news: you have time to review your choices. The Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. Coverage selected during this period generally begins January 1, 2027.
At Fidelity Insurance Group, LLC, we can help you understand your notice, compare Medicare Advantage plans, and review other coverage paths. Simply bring your notice and medication list to a free review.
What Does a Medicare Non-Renewal Notice Mean?
A Medicare Advantage non-renewal notice means your current plan will not be offered in the same way for 2027. This may happen because:
- The plan is ending completely.
- The carrier is leaving your county.
- The carrier is reducing its service area.
- Your specific plan is being replaced by another plan.
- The contract is not being renewed for the upcoming plan year.
Medicare Advantage plans can change from year to year. A plan may be discontinued even if you have never had a problem with it.
Plans generally send Annual Notice of Change documents by September 30, 2026. If your plan is ending or leaving your service area, your official non-renewal notice should explain the applicable options and deadlines. Read the notice carefully. It should explain when your current coverage ends, what options may be available, and which deadlines apply to your situation.
Plan exits and service area reductions have been announced across the country for 2027, affecting members in a number of counties. National figures you see in the news do not tell you what is happening with your plan. Your official plan notice and your county-specific plan information control. If your notice uses the words non-renewal, plan termination or service area reduction, that is your signal to review your options.
For additional background, read our Medicare Advantage 2027 chooser and ANOC review guide.
WHAT TO DO FIRST
Do not put the notice in a drawer and hope the problem disappears. Start with these simple steps.
1. Confirm Your Plan’s Status
Look for phrases such as:
- “Non-renewal”
- “Plan termination”
- “Service area reduction”
- “Your plan will no longer be offered”
- “Coverage ends December 31, 2026”
An Annual Notice of Change may explain benefit or cost changes, but a separate non-renewal notice may be what confirms that your plan is ending. Keep every letter you receive.
2. Write Down Your Priorities
Before comparing new Medicare Advantage plans, list what matters most to you:
- Keeping your primary care doctor
- Keeping your specialists
- Using a preferred hospital
- Keeping your current pharmacy
- Lowering prescription costs
- Having dental, vision, or hearing benefits
- Reducing your monthly premium
- Having more flexibility when traveling
Your priorities make the comparison easier. We can help you organize them during a free consultation.
3. Gather Your Medication List
Write down every prescription, including:
- Medication name
- Dosage
- Frequency
- Quantity
- Preferred pharmacy
- Mail-order information, if applicable
A plan that looks attractive may not be a good fit if your prescriptions are placed on higher tiers or subject to new coverage rules.
IMPORTANT 2027 DEADLINES
September 30, 2026
Plans generally send Annual Notice of Change documents by this date. If your plan is ending or leaving your service area, your official non-renewal notice should explain the applicable options and deadlines. Review your mail and save your official notice.
October 15–December 7, 2026
This is the Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage, also called Medicare Open Enrollment. During AEP, you can generally:
- Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Return to Original Medicare.
- Enroll in a standalone prescription drug plan.
- Review other available coverage options.
Submit your selection by December 7 for coverage that generally begins January 1, 2027.
After December 7
People affected by a plan termination or non-renewal may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. The exact timing, available choices, and deadline depend on the official notice you received and your circumstances.
Do not assume that every plan change creates the same rights. Check your official notice, visit Medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE at 1-800-633-4227.
THREE MAIN REPLACEMENT PATHS
Option 1: Choose Another Medicare Advantage Plan
You may be able to select a different Medicare Advantage plan in your county.
Medicare Advantage plans commonly combine Part A and Part B benefits and may include prescription drug coverage. Many are structured as HMOs or PPOs.
This option may fit if you like:
- Coordinated coverage
- Bundled medical and prescription benefits
- Extra dental, vision, or hearing benefits
- A lower or $0 plan premium
- A local provider network
However, compare the details before enrolling. Look beyond the premium.
Option 2: Choose Original Medicare Plus a Standalone Part D Plan
You may return to Original Medicare and add a standalone prescription drug plan.
This arrangement can provide broader access to providers who accept Medicare, but Original Medicare by itself does not set an annual maximum out-of-pocket limit for most covered services. You may want to consider additional protection, including a Medicare Supplement plan, if you are eligible.
A standalone Part D plan has its own formulary, drug tiers, pharmacy network, deductible, and cost-sharing rules. Review our 2027 Part D guide before choosing.
Option 3: Consider Medicare Supplement Plans
Medicare Supplement plans, also called Medigap, work with Original Medicare. They may help pay certain deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance left by Original Medicare.
This path may appeal to people who prefer:
- More predictable medical costs
- Broader access to Medicare-participating providers
- Fewer private-plan network restrictions
- Coverage that is not tied to one Medicare Advantage service area
Eligibility and medical underwriting rules can apply. Some people affected by a plan termination may have guaranteed-issue rights, while others may need to answer health questions or qualify under carrier rules.
Do not cancel your current coverage before confirming your new application, eligibility, and effective date. Read our Medicare Supplement Plans for 2027 guide for more information.
HOW TO COMPARE YOUR 2027 OPTIONS
Doctors and Hospitals
Confirm that your primary care physician, specialists, preferred hospital, urgent care center, and treatment facilities participate in the 2027 plan.
Do not rely only on an old provider directory. Call the provider’s office and ask about the exact plan name and plan year.
Prescriptions, Formularies, and Pharmacies
Check each prescription on the plan’s formulary. Look for:
- Coverage status
- Drug tier
- Copay or coinsurance
- Prior authorization
- Step therapy
- Quantity limits
- Preferred pharmacies
- Mail-order savings
A local agent or local broker can help you compare this information in an organized way. You can also review official plan details through Medicare Plan Compare.
Total Annual Costs
Do not compare only monthly premiums. Estimate:
Premiums + deductibles + doctor copays + hospital costs + prescription costs + coinsurance
Also review the Medicare Advantage plan’s maximum out-of-pocket limit for covered Part A and Part B services. This limit helps you understand your potential medical spending during a difficult health year.
HMO Versus PPO
HMO plans generally require you to use network providers for routine care and may involve referrals.
PPO plans may provide out-of-network coverage, but your costs can be higher. Out-of-network access does not mean every provider must accept the plan.
Extra Benefits
Dental, vision, hearing, fitness, transportation, and over-the-counter benefits can be useful. Check the allowance, participating providers, limitations, expiration rules, and eligibility requirements.
An extra benefit is only valuable when it works for your situation.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO NOTHING?
If your Medicare Advantage plan continues into 2027, you may generally remain enrolled if you take no action, although its premiums, networks, drug coverage, benefits and costs may change.
If your plan ends, your current Medicare Advantage coverage generally stops at the end of the plan year. You may return to Original Medicare, but you will not automatically receive a Medicare Supplement plan. Prescription drug coverage may also require a separate decision.
That is why reviewing your notice before December 7 is so important.
Do not cancel your current plan early. Keep your existing coverage until your new plan or coverage path is confirmed and you understand the effective date.
YOUR ONE-PAGE 2027 SWITCHING CHECKLIST
- Read your official non-renewal or plan-change notice.
- Confirm whether your plan ends or changes for 2027.
- Save the notice with your Medicare documents.
- Write down your doctors, specialists, hospitals, and pharmacy.
- Prepare a complete medication list.
- Compare Medicare Advantage plans in your county.
- Review Original Medicare plus standalone Part D.
- Ask whether Medicare Supplement plans are available to you.
- Compare formularies, pharmacies, networks, premiums, copays, and maximum out-of-pocket limits.
- Review HMO and PPO rules.
- Check dental, vision, hearing, and other extra benefits.
- Submit your enrollment decision by December 7 when possible.
- Do not cancel current coverage before confirming replacement coverage.
- Keep your confirmation number and effective-date information.
WE CAN HELP YOU REVIEW YOUR NOTICE
You do not have to compare every detail alone. Fidelity Insurance Group, LLC provides free consultations with knowledgeable licensed agents.
Since 2008, we have offered consultations by phone, video or in person. Choose whichever is easiest for you. Reach out, schedule a free review, and bring your notice and medication list. We can help you compare available Medicare Advantage plans, prescription drug plans, and Medicare Supplement plans based on your situation.
Schedule a free consultation or visit Medicare.gov for official information about all available options.
IMPORTANT MEDICARE DISCLAIMER
Fidelity Insurance Group, LLC is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a complete description of Medicare benefits, plan terms, eligibility requirements, enrollment rights, or costs. Plan availability, premiums, benefits, formularies, provider networks, pharmacies, cost-sharing requirements, and maximum out-of-pocket limits vary by county, plan, carrier, and plan year. The official non-renewal notice and current county-specific plan information control.
Fidelity Insurance Group, LLC does not offer every plan available in your area. For information about all available options, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
TPMO Disclosure: Fidelity Insurance Group, LLC is a third-party marketing organization. Fidelity Insurance Group, LLC represents 8 Medicare-related organizations offering 52 products in the service area. Enrollment in a plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. We may be compensated for referrals or enrollments. Contact a licensed agent or Medicare directly for additional information.