My Medicare Advantage plan is ending or leaving my area. What do I do?
You get a Special Enrollment Period to pick a new plan, and for a plan that ends December 31 that window usually runs from December 8 through the end of February. Your plan must tell you in writing by early October. Do not wait: if you do nothing you may land back on Original Medicare without drug coverage.
The letter you should have received
When a plan will not be offered next year, or will stop covering your county, the insurance company must send a non-renewal notice by early October, before the Annual Enrollment Period opens. It explains that your coverage ends December 31 and what your options are. Keep it; it is proof of your Special Enrollment Period if anyone asks.
Plans occasionally end in the middle of a year as well. In that case the letter sets out a different window, and the same general advice applies: act within the dates it gives.
Your Special Enrollment Period
For a plan ending December 31, you can choose a new Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D plan during the regular Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, for a January 1 start. If you miss that, the Special Enrollment Period for a non-renewing plan generally runs from December 8 through the last day of February. A plan chosen in January or February starts the first of the following month, so there can be a gap in Medicare Advantage coverage; Original Medicare continues underneath you throughout.
A right to a Medigap plan, with a deadline
Losing a Medicare Advantage plan because it ended or left your area also gives you a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, plans without health questions. In most states you must apply no later than 63 days after your coverage ends, and only specific plan letters are guaranteed. This is the one option many people miss because nobody mentions it. If you have health conditions that would normally make Medigap hard to get, ask about this first.
What happens if you do nothing
If your Medicare Advantage plan ends and you make no choice, you are returned to Original Medicare on January 1. Original Medicare does not include prescription drug coverage, so you would also need a Part D plan, and going without creditable drug coverage for more than 63 days can mean a permanent late enrollment penalty later. Doing nothing is a choice, and usually the wrong one.
How to compare replacements
- Start with your doctors and hospital. Confirm they are in the new plan’s network, not just "in the area."
- Run your prescriptions through each candidate plan. Formularies differ more than people expect.
- Check whether the new plan has the extras you used, such as dental, vision or an over-the-counter allowance.
- Bring the non-renewal letter to any agent you meet. It tells them exactly which window you are in.
Common questions
Does my doctor know my plan is ending?
Not necessarily, and your doctor’s office will not switch anything for you. Confirm network participation with the new plan directly or with an agent.
Can I switch to a plan from a different company?
Yes. A Special Enrollment Period for a plan ending lets you choose any Medicare Advantage or Part D plan available where you live, from any company.
I am in New Mexico and heard about plan cuts. Does this apply to me?
If your plan sent you a non-renewal or service-area notice, yes. The dates in that letter govern your options. If you are not sure whether you received one, call your plan’s member services line, the number on your ID card.
What if I already found a new plan?
Enrolling in a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan automatically ends the old one. You do not need to cancel anything separately.
Talk it through in person
Every office in this directory has licensed agents who will sit down with you, at no cost, and go through your situation. Find a Medicare office near you →