Have You Heard That Medicare Advantage Plans Are Going Away?

Headlines about insurance companies discontinuing Medicare Advantage plans can be unsettling—especially if you recognize your insurance company’s name.

You may wonder: Is my plan ending? Will I lose my coverage? Should I switch to something else?

Some plans are ending or leaving certain areas for 2027, and affected members need to pay attention. But that does not mean all Medicare Advantage plans are going away—or that everyone needs to change how they receive their Medicare coverage.

The first step is finding out what is happening with your particular plan.

A national headline doesn’t tell the whole local story

Medicare Advantage plans are offered within specific service areas. An insurance company may discontinue one plan, stop offering coverage in certain counties, and continue offering other plans elsewhere.

UnitedHealthcare and Humana are discontinuing certain Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, but both companies continue to offer Medicare Advantage coverage. The changes depend on the specific plan and location. Seeing your insurance company’s name in a headline does not, by itself, mean your own plan is ending.

Read—and keep—the notices from your insurance company

Your insurance company will send you notices explaining changes to your coverage, including whether your plan is ending or you’ll be moved into another plan. Don’t discard these notices or assume they’re advertisements. They may explain actions you need to take and important deadlines.

Your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) explains upcoming changes to a continuing plan. A nonrenewal notice tells you that your current plan will no longer be offered to you for the coming year. Keep these documents so you can refer to them when reviewing your options.

If you’re unsure what a notice means—or whether your plan is affected—contact BeneCentric. We can help you confirm what’s happening with your coverage and help you understand your next steps.

Some members will move automatically. Others must choose new coverage.

These situations can sound similar in the news, but they can require different actions.

In certain approved plan consolidations, members are automatically moved into another plan. This process is sometimes called a crosswalk. Medicare has specific rules governing when these transitions are allowed.

An automatic move still deserves a careful review. The replacement plan may have different premiums, copays, prescription costs, provider networks, or additional benefits. Being moved automatically does not guarantee that the new plan will meet your needs as well as the old one.

In other situations, a plan is ending without an automatic replacement, and members need to choose new coverage. If your plan ends and you aren’t moved into or enrolled in another Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll generally return to Original Medicare. If your current plan includes prescription drug coverage, you’ll also need to arrange replacement drug coverage. Your insurance company’s notice will explain what happens if you take no action.

Do not assume that having another plan available from the same insurance company means you will be enrolled in it automatically.

A plan ending does not mean your Medicare eligibility ends

If your Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued, you do not lose your Medicare eligibility simply because that plan is leaving.

Depending on what is available where you live, you may be able to select another Medicare Advantage plan or receive your benefits through Original Medicare.

If your Medicare Advantage plan will no longer be offered in your area next year, you’ll have a Special Enrollment Period to choose new coverage. Your plan’s notice will explain your options and deadlines.

The goal is to arrange coverage before your current plan ends, including any prescription drug coverage you need. Confirm when your replacement coverage will begin rather than assuming it will start automatically.

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement coverage both involve trade-offs

Medicare Advantage can be a reasonable fit for someone who values lower monthly plan premiums, usually bundled prescription coverage, and additional benefits such as dental and vision coverage. In exchange, the person needs to understand provider networks, copays, prior authorization requirements, and the plan’s annual medical out-of-pocket limit.

Original Medicare paired with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy offers broader access to providers who accept Medicare and can make covered medical expenses more predictable. However, you’ll pay an additional monthly premium for the Medicare Supplement policy and you'll also generally need a separate Part D prescription drug plan, which may have its own monthly premium. Routine dental and vision care generally aren’t covered, so adding that coverage may also involve additional monthly premiums.

Neither Medicare Advantage nor Original Medicare paired with a Medicare Supplement policy is automatically the better choice for everyone. Your healthcare needs, doctors, prescriptions, budget, and preferences all matter when choosing coverage that’s right for you.

Can you qualify for a Medicare Supplement policy without health questions?

If your Medicare Advantage plan is ending and you are considering Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement policy, ask whether you qualify for guaranteed issue rights.

In qualifying circumstances, these protections allow you to purchase certain Medicare Supplement policies without being turned down or charged more because of your health. There are eligibility requirements and application deadlines, and the protections do not necessarily apply to every Medicare Supplement plan.

This is different from voluntarily leaving a continuing Medicare Advantage plan, when medical underwriting may apply. Keep your nonrenewal notice—it may be needed to document your eligibility—and confirm your rights before making a coverage decision.

Focus on your coverage and your next steps

If a headline has you concerned, start with these questions:

• Is my specific plan continuing, changing, or ending?

• Will I move automatically into another plan, or must I enroll?

• Will the available coverage work with my doctors and prescriptions?

• What will my premiums and potential out-of-pocket costs be?

• What deadline applies, and when will replacement coverage begin?

Do not make a decision based on someone else’s experience or a national headline. Instead, you need a clear understanding of your own coverage and your available choices.

At BeneCentric, we’ll help you understand your plan’s notice, review your options, and identify any steps you need to take. Our guidance and support are provided at no cost to you, without pressure to choose one approach over another.

If you’ve received a notice and aren’t sure what it means, contact us today at BeneCentric.com. We’ll help you make sense of it.

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