A letter saying your Medicare Advantage plan will not continue next year can raise immediate questions. Can you keep your doctor? What happens to your prescriptions? Will you need to pay more?

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan ending in 2027, start with your insurer’s notice. Confirm when coverage ends, review your enrollment options, and compare replacement coverage before choosing.

Need help organizing your questions? Contact Nest4Future to start a Medicare coverage conversation.

Why Are Some Medicare Advantage Plans Ending?

Fortune reports selected UnitedHealthcare and Humana plan closures affecting nearly one million members. 

The original Healthcare Brew reporting puts the figures at approximately 390,000 UnitedHealthcare members and 600,000 Humana members. It connects insurers’ decisions to rising medical spending and efforts to improve profitability. Some continuing plans also change benefits, costs, or networks. 

That does not mean every plan from either company is ending. Your own plan notice determines whether you face a closure, a transfer, or changes within a continuing plan.[Fortune]

1. Confirm What Your Notice Actually Says

First, separate a nonrenewal notice from an Annual Notice of Change.

An Annual Notice of Change explains next year’s changes to an existing plan, including costs and coverage. Medicare says plans send it each fall, typically in September. If you have not received yours, contact your insurer. 

For a notice about coverage ending, ask:

• What is my exact plan name and identification number?

• What date does my current coverage end?

• Must I actively choose another plan?

• Does the notice describe an automatic transfer?

• Which enrollment deadlines apply to my situation?

Keep the letter and record the answers. A familiar insurer name alone cannot tell you whether a replacement plan meets your needs.

2. Know Your Enrollment Dates

For 2027 coverage, annual Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. Changes made during this period generally begin January 1, 2027. [3]

When a Medicare Advantage contract is not renewed, Medicare provides a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 through the last day of February of the following year. For a qualifying nonrenewal at the end of 2026, that means December 8, 2026, through February 28, 2027.

A later enrollment opportunity does not mean you should wait. Ask Medicare or the insurer to confirm the effective date before assuming you have uninterrupted replacement coverage.

3. Compare Your Main Coverage Options

You may consider another Medicare Advantage plan or Original Medicare, with separate drug coverage and supplemental insurance where appropriate.

Compare the structure that fits your care needs, rather than assuming one option works best for everyone. 

4. Check Doctors and Prescriptions Before Extra Benefits

Make a list of your primary care clinician, specialists, preferred hospital, pharmacy, and medications.

Then verify each item against the exact 2027 plan you are considering. Ask both the insurer and your provider’s office about participation. For prescriptions, check the drug name, dosage, covered-drug list, pharmacy, and any authorization requirements.

Medicare’s comparison tools let you enter medications to estimate monthly and yearly drug costs. They also help you compare local plans and find Medigap insurers by ZIP code. 

Illustrative example: A retiree in Dallas sees a cardiologist regularly and takes several prescriptions. A replacement plan’s dental allowance looks appealing, but the retiree should first verify the cardiologist and medications. That comparison addresses recurring needs before optional extras.

Bring your provider and medication lists to your next coverage discussion. Start with Nest4Future.

5. Check Medigap Rights Separately

Returning to Original Medicare does not automatically enroll you in Medigap.

If your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare or stops serving your area, you may have guaranteed issue rights to buy certain Medigap policies. Eligible applications generally fall within a window beginning 60 days before coverage ends and ending no more than 63 days afterward.

Which policies you can buy depends on the qualifying circumstances and Medicare eligibility. State protections may also apply. Keep the nonrenewal notice because you may need proof that coverage ended.

Also, annual Medicare Open Enrollment does not create a new unrestricted Medigap enrollment window every year. Check eligibility, price, and the policy’s effective date before relying on it. 

6. Compare Total Costs, Not Just Monthly Premiums

Use a simple worksheet with these categories:

• Monthly premiums

• Medical and prescription deductibles

• Primary care and specialist visits

• Hospital and outpatient care

• Regular prescriptions

• Services outside the plan’s coverage

• Potential costs during a year with more medical care

Create one estimate based on your usual care and another based on a more demanding year. Treat these as planning scenarios, not guaranteed bills.

If costs strain your budget, explore Extra Help for prescriptions and Medicare Savings Programs. Eligibility depends on program requirements, including income and resources. 

What Happens If You Do Nothing?

If you do not join another Medicare Advantage plan before your current plan ends, Medicare says you will enter Original Medicare. Read your notice carefully for any different transition instructions. 

Do not assume this transition includes a separate Part D policy or Medigap. Medicare advises people switching to Original Medicare to consider drug coverage and check whether they can obtain supplemental insurance. 

Doing nothing can therefore leave important coverage decisions unresolved.

Where Can You Get Help?

You can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for enrollment questions. State Health Insurance Assistance Programs, known as SHIP, provide free, personalized Medicare counseling. [9]

For a Nest4Future conversation, bring your notice, medication list, provider names, and budget questions. You can also review Nest4Future’s Medicare information before contacting the team.

Make Your Next Step Specific

Find your notice today. Write down the coverage end date, list your doctors and prescriptions, and identify two or three options to compare.

Contact Nest4Future with your Medicare questions and prepare for your next coverage decision.

Educational information only. Plan availability, benefits, costs, and enrollment rights depend on your circumstances and location.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does my plan ending mean I lose Medicare?

No. A private plan’s nonrenewal does not itself end Medicare eligibility. However, you should confirm how your medical and drug coverage will continue.

2. Do all UnitedHealthcare and Humana members need new plans?

No. The reporting concerns selected plans. Check your exact plan and official notice rather than deciding from the insurer’s name alone.

3. Can I choose another plan from the same insurer?

Possibly, if an eligible option serves your area. Compare its providers, prescriptions, and costs as carefully as any other replacement.

4. Will Medigap automatically accept me?

Not in every situation. A qualifying plan exit may create guaranteed issue rights, but the applicable policies, deadlines, and state rules require a separate check.

5. Should I wait until February to act?

Start now. Although a qualifying nonrenewal provides additional enrollment time, confirm the replacement coverage’s start date and avoid leaving drug or supplemental coverage unresolved.