Is My Medicare Advantage Plan Leaving in 2027? What to Do Now

Medicare Advantage is shrinking in parts of the country for 2027. Large insurers are dropping plans and counties, and some smaller insurers are leaving completely. Nearly 3.2 million Medicare Advantage enrollees, almost 11%, will need to find new plans for 2027, according to an analysis of CMS data by Jared Strock of Medicare Market Insights, reported by CNN.

If your Medicare Advantage plan is being discontinued, you have options and time to act. Here is how to tell if your plan is leaving, what happens if you do nothing, and the deadlines that matter most.

How to Tell If Your Plan Is Leaving in 2027

Your plan has to tell you in writing. Look for two pieces of mail.

• A non-renewal letter. If your plan will not be offered in your county next year, the insurer must mail you a notice at least 90 days before your coverage ends. For plans ending December 31, 2026, your insurer had to get this letter to you by October 2, 2026. It should also explain your other coverage options.
• Your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Every Medicare Advantage plan that is renewing for 2027 had to send this by September 30, 2026. It lists your 2027 changes, including whether you are being moved to a different plan from the same company.

Not sure? Call the number on your plan ID card or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

What Happens If Your Plan Is Not Renewing

You are moved to another plan from the same insurer. If your insurer offers a similar plan of the same type in your county, you may be moved into it automatically, according to KFF. Your benefits, premium and network can be different, so read the details.

You are returned to Original Medicare. If there is no plan to move you into and you do not choose one, you will be enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) on January 1, 2027. If your old plan included drug coverage, that ends too. You would need to join a stand-alone Part D drug plan.

Going 63 days or more in a row without Part D or other creditable drug coverage can mean a Part D late enrollment penalty, according to Medicare.gov.

Your 2027 Deadlines at a Glance

The safest move is to choose by December 7. Waiting until January or February can leave you without drug coverage for weeks. For step-by-step help, see our guide on how to change Medicare plans during AEP.

Your Medigap Rights When a Medicare Advantage Plan Leaves

In most states, once your first Medigap enrollment window has passed, a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurer can turn you down or charge more because of your health. A plan exit changes that.

Under federal law, if your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving Medicare or stops serving your area, you have a guaranteed issue right. That means an insurer cannot deny you certain Medigap policies or charge more for health problems. Here are the rules, according to CMS’s official Medigap guide:

• The right applies only if you switch to Original Medicare, not another Medicare Advantage plan.
• If you first got Medicare before January 1, 2020, you can buy Medigap Plan A, B, C, F, K or L sold by an insurance company in your state.
• If you were new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, Plans C and F are not sold to you. You can buy Plan A, B, D, G, K or L instead.
• You can apply before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends. The latest you can apply is 63 days after it ends.
• Your Medigap policy cannot start until your Medicare Advantage coverage ends.

New to Medicare Advantage? You may have a “trial right” with more choices. If you joined a Medicare Advantage plan when you first got Part A at 65, and you switch to Original Medicare within the first year, you can buy any Medigap policy sold in your state (Plans C and F are not open to people new to Medicare since 2020). If you dropped a Medigap policy to join Medicare Advantage for the first time less than a year ago, you may be able to get that same policy back if the company still sells it.

Medigap policies sold today do not cover prescription drugs, so you would also need a Part D plan. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin have different Medigap policies, and some states give extra protections, so check with your local SHIP office.

If Your Stand-Alone Part D Plan Is Ending

Stand-alone drug plans are also shrinking. There will be 316 stand-alone Part D plans from 15 companies in 2027, down from 360 plans from 17 companies in 2026, according to KFF. CVS Health is withdrawing its SilverScript Choice plan from 13 regions, and Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) is withdrawing its HealthSpring Extra Rx plan from 22 regions.

If your drug plan is not renewing, you have the same window as Medicare Advantage members: October 15, 2026, through the last day of February 2027, according to KFF. Pick a new plan by December 7 so your coverage starts January 1. If you get Extra Help with drug costs, call 1-800-MEDICARE to confirm your 2027 plan. Our guide to Medicare Part D costs explains what to compare.

Which Insurers Are Pulling Back for 2027?

Here is what major insurers have reported. Some counties lose a plan or two. Others lose an entire insurer.

Most people will still have choices. The average person on Medicare can choose from 28 Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage in 2027, down from 32 in 2026, according to KFF. CMS says about 8 in 10 Medicare Advantage members can keep their current plan with the same or a lower premium in 2027.

What If Your Plan Stays but Your Doctors Leave?

Sometimes the plan stays, but doctors or hospitals leave its network. Your plan generally must tell you when a doctor you see regularly leaves its network. If Medicare decides the network change is significant, you may get a special enrollment period to switch plans. CMS says this kind of special enrollment period also gives you a Medigap guaranteed issue right if you switch to Original Medicare.

Before you pick a new plan, ask your doctors’ offices which 2027 plans they accept.

How to Compare Plans on Medicare Plan Finder

1. Go to Medicare.gov Plan Finder and enter your ZIP code.
2. Add your prescription drugs and preferred pharmacy so the tool can estimate your yearly drug costs.
3. Compare premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket limits and star ratings for 2027.
4. Confirm your doctors and hospitals are in network with each plan.
5. Enroll online, call the plan or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

For more detail, see our 2027 Medicare Advantage comparison guide.

Get Free Help From SHIP

Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). SHIP counselors give free, one-on-one Medicare help. They can review your letter, explain your Medigap rights and help you compare plans. Find your local SHIP at shiphelp.org or call 877-839-2675.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my Medicare Advantage plan is ending in 2027?

Look for a non-renewal letter. Your insurer had to get it to you by October 2, 2026. Not sure? Call the number on your member ID card or 1-800-MEDICARE.

What happens if I do nothing?

Unless your insurer moves you into another plan, you will be in Original Medicare on January 1, 2027. If your old plan covered drugs, you will need a Part D plan to avoid a gap and a possible late penalty.

How long do I have to choose a new plan?

You can use open enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026. If you got a non-renewal letter, you also have a special enrollment period from December 8, 2026, through February 28, 2027.

Can I get a Medigap plan if my Medicare Advantage plan leaves?

Yes. If you switch to Original Medicare, you have a federal guaranteed issue right to buy Medigap Plan A, B, C, F, K or L sold in your state. If you were new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, you can buy Plan D or G instead of C or F. You must apply no later than 63 days after your plan coverage ends. Your state may give you more rights.

Is Humana leaving Medicare Advantage in 2027?

No. Humana is dropping some plans, which affects about 600,000 members, but it is not leaving Medicare Advantage. Check your letter to see if your plan is affected.

This article is for general information only. Rules and deadlines can vary by plan and state, so check your plan letter or call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for help with your situation.

Sources

• Medicare.gov, Special Enrollment Periods
• Medicare.gov, Joining a plan
• Medicare.gov, Avoid late enrollment penalties
• CMS, Choosing a Medigap Policy (March 2026)
• CMS, FAQ on significant provider network changes and Medigap guaranteed issue (December 2024)
• 42 CFR 422.506, Nonrenewal of contract
• 42 CFR 422.62, Election of coverage (special enrollment and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment periods)
• 42 CFR 423.46, Late enrollment penalty
• 42 CFR 422.111, Disclosure requirements (Annual Notice of Change)
• Integrated Care Resource Center (CMS-funded), 2026 Key Medicare Advantage Dates
• CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D expected to remain stable in 2027 (September 28, 2026)
• KFF, FAQ: My Medicare Advantage plan is not being offered next year
• KFF, The average Medicare beneficiary has 28 Medicare Advantage drug plan options for 2027
• KFF, Part D stand-alone drug plan premiums for 2027
• UnitedHealthcare, 2027 Medicare Advantage Service Area Reductions FAQ
• CNN, More than 3 million Medicare Advantage enrollees need to find new plans for 2027 (October 15, 2026)
• Becker’s Payer Issues, Humana to exit Medicare Advantage plans covering 600,000 members in 2027
• Becker’s, Medicare Advantage looks stable for 2027. Underneath, it’s shifting
• Becker’s Payer Issues, 12 payers exiting Medicare Advantage in 2027
• Becker’s Payer Issues, HCSC halved its Medicare Advantage footprint
• Healthcare Brew, Medicare Advantage plan benefits, options shift in 2027 (October 16, 2026)
• SHIP National Technical Assistance Center