Key Takeaways
Your Medicare Advantage plan ending for 2027 does not cancel your Medicare eligibility. You still have Medicare Part A and Part B; you need to choose how to receive your 2027 coverage.
Keep your Plan Non-Renewal Notice. It controls your coverage end date, your enrollment rights, and may serve as proof of Medigap guaranteed issue rights.
If you do nothing, you will return to Original Medicare on the date your plan ends. Original Medicare alone does not include routine outpatient prescription drug coverage and has no annual out-of-pocket cap for Part A and Part B services.
You have four paths: enroll in another Medicare Advantage plan, use Original Medicare with a standalone Part D prescription drug plan, add Medigap and Part D to Original Medicare, or remain on Original Medicare alone.
When plan leaves Medicare or your service area it may trigger time-limited Medigap guaranteed issue rights, but available plan choices depend on the triggering event, your Medicare eligibility date, and state law.
Your Medicare Continues, but You Need New Coverage for 2027
If your Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued for 2027, your Medicare eligibility stays intact, but you will need to choose new coverage to start in January 2027. The insurance company’s decision to end its Medicare contract, or to stop offering a plan in your county, does not remove you from the Medicare program. For the standard 2027 calendar-year nonrenewal discussed here, your current plan’s coverage generally remains active through December 31, 2026. Your notice controls the actual end date.
This is for Medicare beneficiaries whose Medicare Advantage plan is ending for 2027 and who need to understand what to do next without missing enrollment deadlines or risking a gap in coverage. Keep the Plan Non-Renewal Notice that your plan sends; it states the exact date your coverage ends and includes instructions about your options. Save it with your important records, because a Medigap insurer or Medicare itself may ask to see it later.
What changes is the private plan that delivered your Medicare-covered services. You can choose from four coverage structures: another Medicare Advantage plan, Original Medicare with a standalone Part D drug plan, Original Medicare with both Medigap and Part D, or Original Medicare alone. If you are returning to Original Medicare because the plan is leaving Medicare or ending service in your area, you may also qualify for time-limited Medigap guaranteed-issue rights. Below, you’ll see how plan discontinuation works, which 2027 deadlines apply, what replacement coverage options you have, and how to compare plans so you can make the right switch in time.
What Do “Discontinued,” “Not Renewing,” and “Canceled” Mean?
These three phrases describe related but distinct situations. A Medicare plan not renewing means the insurance company’s Medicare contract for that plan ends, and the plan will not be offered in the coming year. A Medicare plan canceled is informal language for the same outcome from the member’s perspective. A plan leaving a service area means the insurer still holds a Medicare contract but no longer covers certain counties.
Each of these events is different from routine annual changes in benefits, provider networks, copays, or formularies. Those changes appear in the Annual Notice of Change, which plans must send by September 30 each year. The ANOC describes what is different about a plan that is renewing. The Plan Non-Renewal Notice is a separate document. Medicare says plans send this notice in October when a plan is leaving the Medicare program in the coming year, and affected members must look for new coverage.
Review your Annual Notice Of Change if you received one alongside a nonrenewal letter; the two documents serve different purposes. The nonrenewal notice is what triggers your special enrollment rights and, potentially, your Medigap guaranteed issue rights. It also tells you whether the plan is ending entirely or leaving only your county.
Your 2027 Decision Timeline
Federal rules set specific windows for enrollment decisions. Missing one can limit your plan options.
| Date or Period | What Happens | What You Should Do |
|---|---|---|
| By September 30, 2026 | Plans send the Annual Notice of Change for plans that are renewing. | Review your ANOC. If your plan is ending, a separate nonrenewal notice should arrive soon. |
| October 2026 | Plan Non-Renewal Notices arrive for plans leaving Medicare for 2027. Notices must explain termination dates and available alternatives to affected beneficiaries. | Confirm the last day of your Medicare Advantage coverage. Save the notice. |
| October 15 to December 7, 2026 | Annual Enrollment Period. You can switch to a new Medicare Advantage plan, join Original Medicare, or add or change a Part D plan. | Compare available plans using Medicare's Plan Finder tool. Decide your coverage structure. |
| January 1, 2027 | Changes during Open Enrollment take effect. Old calendar-year contracts that are not renewed end December 31, 2026. | Verify your new plan's ID card and effective date before relying on the new coverage. |
| December 8, 2026 to February 28, 2027 | A special enrollment period runs for members whose Medicare Advantage or Part D contract is not renewed. | If you did not act during the Annual Enrollment Period, use this window. Elections made in January generally take effect February 1; February elections take effect March 1. |
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Contract terminations, service-area reductions, and other events can trigger different windows. Medicare lists the enrollment rights and timing for each contract event. Your notice is the controlling document. |
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What Happens If You Do Nothing?
You will automatically return to Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) if you do nothing. Under a standard plan contract nonrenewal, Medicare says a member who does not join another Medicare Advantage plan before the current plan ends will be enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) on the date the old plan terminates.
Original Medicare covers hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, physician visits, lab tests, durable medical equipment, and other Part A and Part B services. It does not include routine outpatient prescription drug coverage. Part B generally requires a 20 percent coinsurance after the standard deductible, and Part A has a hospital deductible per benefit period. There is no annual out-of-pocket cap under Original Medicare alone.
You will not be assigned to another Medicare Advantage plan automatically unless your notice explicitly describes a “mapped” or “crosswalked” replacement. If it does, examine that new plan carefully: enrollment in a replacement Medicare Advantage plan may not include the same providers, the same formulary, or the same cost structure as your current plan. Changes in doctor networks and provider availability may occur when switching plans. Change carefully; verify every detail.
Even after January 1, you may still use the plan-nonrenewal special enrollment period through February 28, 2027 to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or a standalone Part D plan. Medigap has a separate, often shorter, application window described below.
What Are Your Four Coverage Options for 2027?
Your choice of new coverage depends on your doctors, prescriptions, tolerance for cost sharing, and how you prefer to receive care. The number and type of Medicare Advantage plan options available vary by county, and returning to Original Medicare with supplemental coverage may also be a path. Plans may offer different monthly premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs. Here is a side-by-side view.
| Factor | Another MA Plan | Original Medicare + Part D | Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D | Original Medicare Alone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider access | In-network providers; out-of-network costs higher or not covered | Any provider accepting Medicare | Any provider accepting Medicare | Any provider accepting Medicare |
| Prescription coverage | Usually included (MA-PD) | Standalone Part D plan | Standalone Part D plan | None unless separately arranged |
| Prior authorization/referrals | Often required | Generally not required | Generally not required | Generally not required |
| Monthly premium | Varies; some $0 premium plans exist | Part B premium + Part D premium | Part B premium + Medigap premium + Part D premium | Part B premium only |
| Annual out-of-pocket cap | Yes; required by Medicare rules | No cap under Original Medicare | Medigap may cover some or most Part A/B cost sharing, depending on the policy | No cap |
| Travel coverage | Varies; some plans limit out-of-area care | Nationwide with accepting providers | Nationwide with accepting providers | Nationwide with accepting providers |
| Extra benefits (dental, vision, hearing, fitness) | Often included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Plan availability and costs depend on your ZIP code and county. Plans may change annually or discontinue offerings in response to rising costs, affecting coverage and costs from year to year. | ||||
Option 1: Choose Another Medicare Advantage Plan
During the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7, 2026) and the nonrenewal Special Enrollment Period (December 8, 2026 to February 28, 2027), you can enroll in any Medicare Advantage plan accepting new members in your area. Affected beneficiaries have special enrollment rights to choose Original Medicare or another plan. For example, a replacement option may keep the same premium but use a different provider network or drug formulary.
Before enrolling, verify whether your doctors and hospitals are in-network. Check the formulary for each of your prescription drugs, including tier placement, copays, and any prior authorization or referral requirements. Compare the plan’s maximum out-of-pocket limit, standard deductible, and premium. Many MA plans include Part D prescription drug coverage, but not all do; confirm before assuming your prescriptions are covered.
Medical coverage fundamentals matter more than extras. A dental or vision benefit adds value only if the core network, formulary, and cost sharing work for your situation. Network restrictions may be tighter or broader than your current plan.
Option 2: Use Original Medicare and Add a Standalone Part D Plan
Returning to Original Medicare gives you access to any provider who accepts Medicare, with no referrals or prior authorization for most services. Adding a stand-alone prescription drug plan handles outpatient prescriptions.
Part D does not fill Part A or Part B cost-sharing gaps. You still pay the Part B premium, the Part B coinsurance (typically 20 percent), the Part A hospital deductible per benefit period, and any other applicable cost sharing. There is no annual out-of-pocket cap. In a year with multiple hospital stays or expensive outpatient treatment, costs can add up without a ceiling.
If you lose your MA plan’s drug coverage and go 63 days or more in a row without Part D or other creditable prescription coverage, you may face a late enrollment penalty added to every future Part D premium. Even if you rarely take prescription drugs now, enrolling in a low-premium Part D plan avoids that penalty and protects against sudden high drug costs.
Option 3: Use Original Medicare, Medigap, and Part D
This structure involves three separate pieces: Original Medicare as the primary payer, a Medigap policy to reduce or eliminate most Part A and Part B cost sharing, and a standalone Part D plan for prescription drugs. Each has its own premium.
Medigap works only with Original Medicare. It cannot be used with a Medicare Advantage plan. Modern Medigap policies (sold after 2005) do not include outpatient prescription drug coverage, so Part D is a separate purchase.
The trade-off: your combined monthly premiums (Part B premium, Medigap premium, Part D premium) will typically be higher than a single Medicare Advantage plan premium. In return, you gain broad provider access, more predictable cost sharing for covered services, and coverage from providers nationwide who accept Medicare. If you are considering this path, the process of switching from Medicare Advantage to Medicare Supplement insurance involves enrollment timing, rights verification, and coordinating the effective dates of all three pieces.
Option 4: Use Original Medicare Alone
Original Medicare by itself covers Part A and Part B services with applicable cost sharing. You pay only the Part B premium (and Part A premium if you do not qualify for premium-free Part A), but you carry all deductibles, coinsurance, and copays yourself. There is no out-of-pocket cap, and there is no outpatient prescription drug coverage.
Assess your drug coverage needs and cost exposure before choosing this path. If you go 63 or more continuous days without creditable drug coverage, a Part D late enrollment penalty may apply when you eventually enroll. Some beneficiaries in this situation have other coverage through the VA, an employer, Medicaid services, or similar sources that may change the calculation.
Could the Plan Ending Give You Medigap Guaranteed-Issue Rights?
When a Medicare Advantage plan leaves the Medicare program or stops serving your area, federal rules may give you guaranteed issue rights if you return to Original Medicare. Under guaranteed issue, a Medigap insurer must sell you certain protected policy choices, must cover pre-existing conditions, and cannot charge you more because of health problems.
The protected standardized plan letters depend on the triggering event, your Medicare eligibility date, and state law. Not every Medigap plan letter is available under guaranteed issue in every situation. States can add protections beyond the federal minimum, and availability for people under 65 varies. Medicare’s Medigap timing guide explains federal buying rights and directs readers to their State Insurance Department for state-specific protections.
The federal application window may begin 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends and generally closes no more than 63 days after it ends. Guaranteed issue rights for Medigap last 63 days after coverage ends. Medigap cannot start until your MA plan coverage ends. It is very important to keep the nonrenewal notice because the insurer may request proof of your triggering event.
Outside of your Medigap enrollment timing and guaranteed-issue window, or outside the six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that generally starts the first month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B, medical underwriting may apply in many states. An insurer can ask health questions, charge a higher premium, or decline the application entirely.
If you are under 65, have Medicaid, receive Extra Help, or carry employer or union retiree coverage, the available Medigap options and enrollment rules differ. Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or state insurance department for situation-specific guidance.
How Should You Compare Replacement Coverage?
Replacing a discontinued advantage plan is not only about the premium. Walk through this checklist for each plan you are considering:
Doctors and hospitals: Confirm your current providers are in network (for MA) or accept Medicare (for Original Medicare paths).
Prescriptions and formulary: Enter each of your prescription drugs into the plan’s formulary lookup. Check tier placement, copays, prior authorization, step therapy, and quantity limits.
Pharmacies: Verify your preferred pharmacy is in the plan’s network. Mail-order options may differ.
Total premiums: Add up all monthly costs: Part B premium, plan premium, Medigap premium (if applicable), and Part D premium.
Cost sharing and maximum exposure: Compare copays, coinsurance, the out-of-pocket cap (MA plans must have one; Original Medicare does not), and deductibles.
Prior authorization and referrals: Some MA plans require referrals or prior authorization for specialists, imaging, or procedures.
Travel: If you spend time in rural areas or other states, confirm how each plan covers care away from home.
Optional benefits: Dental, vision, hearing, fitness, and transportation benefits vary by MA plan and are not part of Original Medicare or Medigap.
You can compare plans using Medicare’s Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov/plan-compare. For personalized help, call 1-800-MEDICARE or contact your local SHIP office. Your state insurance department can clarify Medigap availability and state-specific rules.
Your Step-by-Step Action Checklist
Read and save your Plan Non-Renewal Notice and any Annual Notice of Change you received.
Confirm the exact last day of your current plan’s coverage and the event type (full contract nonrenewal, service-area exit, or other).
List your doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, prescriptions (with dosages), and any benefits you rely on.
Decide whether your 2027 base should be Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare.
If considering Medigap, verify immediately whether you have a guaranteed-issue right. Mark the 60-day-before and 63-day-after window on your calendar.
Compare local MA and Part D choices with Medicare.gov/plan-compare, or call 1-800-MEDICARE or your SHIP for neutral help.
Submit applications within the correct enrollment windows and coordinate effective dates so you do not have a gap; do not wait until the last minute, because delays can narrow your options and increase the risk of a coverage gap.
Save all confirmation numbers, letters, and new ID cards. Verify effective dates.
Before relying on new coverage, recheck that your doctors, drugs, and pharmacies are included and that the premium and cost-sharing match what you expected.
For a structured walkthrough of rights, deadlines, and next steps when a plan is canceled or not renewed, use the guided MedicareChecklist for a canceled or nonrenewing plan (opens in a new tab).
Starting in October gives you additional time to ask questions, compare plan options, and apply for Medigap within guaranteed-issue windows if you qualify. Waiting until early December narrows your choices and compresses a decision that deserves careful review.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Your Medicare eligibility does not depend on any private Medicare Advantage plan. If your plan ends and you do not join another MA plan before the current plan ends, Medicare enrolls you in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). You must then actively decide whether to add Part D, Medigap, or both.
Generally, no. You will return to Original Medicare unless your nonrenewal notice explicitly describes a “mapped” or “crosswalked” replacement plan. If it does, compare that replacement’s providers, formulary, and costs against your needs before accepting it. Do not assume equivalence with your current plan.
You may have guaranteed issue rights if the plan is leaving Medicare or ending service in your area and you return to Original Medicare. The protected policy choices, timing, and availability depend on the triggering event, your Medicare eligibility date, and state law. You generally must apply within a window that begins up to 60 days before your MA coverage ends and closes 63 days after. Keep the nonrenewal notice as proof.
Part D is optional. However, if you go 63 or more continuous days without Part D or other creditable drug coverage, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty when you eventually enroll. Even beneficiaries who take few prescriptions often enroll in a low-premium Part D plan to avoid that penalty and to have coverage if drug needs change.
If your plan’s contract is not renewed, the special enrollment period runs from December 8, 2026 through February 28, 2027 for MA and Part D enrollment. The January 1 through March 31 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is not a universal backup; it generally applies only to someone already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, not to someone who has returned to Original Medicare. Medigap guaranteed-issue timing is separate and often shorter. Your notice controls which windows apply.
Check with the applicable coordinator before changing your coverage. Employer and union retiree plans, Medicaid, and Extra Help each interact with Medicare differently, and making a change without understanding the coordination can create gaps or affect benefits. Contact your employer benefits administrator, state Medicaid office, SHIP, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your state insurance department for guidance specific to your situation.
Choose the Coverage Structure That Fits 2027
A Medicare Advantage plan being discontinued for 2027 requires a coverage decision, not a panic. Your Medicare continues. The four paths each carry distinct trade-offs in cost, provider access, drug coverage, and financial risk.
Preserve the nonrenewal notice. Compare coverage structures early, while the annual enrollment period is open and Medigap guaranteed-issue windows have not closed. Verify providers, formularies, and costs against your actual needs rather than accepting a default. Medicare.gov/plan-compare, 1-800-MEDICARE, SHIP, and your state insurance department offer individualized help at no cost to you.
