Your Medicare Advantage Plan Is Ending for 2027: Key Deadlines, Your Medigap Rights and What to Do Next
If you got a letter saying your Medicare Advantage plan will not renew for 2027, you will not lose Medicare. You have three main choices: join another Advantage plan, switch to Original Medicare with a Medigap policy and a Part D drug plan, or switch to Original Medicare with only a drug plan.
The safest move is to choose during Open Enrollment, by December 7, 2026, so your new coverage starts January 1 with no gap. If you miss that, you get a special window from December 8, 2026, to February 28, 2027 (Medicare.gov). And because your plan is leaving, you may have a guaranteed right to buy certain Medigap policies without health questions.
I research and compare Medicare plans for readers. I am not a licensed insurance agent. Rules here were checked against Medicare.gov and CMS on October 16, 2026.
If you need a new plan, some 2027 plans can stop taking new members once they fill up. See which Medicare Advantage plans have enrollment limits for 2027 and why applying early matters.
Extra Help members get blue letters when a plan leaves. See what the Medicare tan, blue and orange letters mean.
Why so many people are getting these letters
Insurers decide each year which Medicare Advantage plans to keep, change, or drop. For 2027, several large insurers have pulled back in some areas.
In Minnesota alone, about 390,000 people, or one-third of the state’s seniors, are losing or seeing changes to their Medicare Advantage coverage, MPR News reported on October 13, 2026. HealthPartners, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield are among the insurers dropping or restructuring plans there (MPR News).
Nationally, CMS says plan choice remains broad. It reports that more than 99% of people with Medicare can choose at least one Advantage plan for 2027, and 97% can choose 10 or more. CMS also projects the average Advantage premium will drop from $14.37 to $12.00 a month (CMS, 2027 release). Averages can hide big local changes, so check your own area.
Your key dates
| Date | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| October 15 to December 7, 2026 | Open Enrollment. Pick any plan. It starts January 1. |
| December 8, 2026, to February 28, 2027 | Special window because your plan ended. Coverage starts the first of the month after you join. |
| December 31, 2026 | Your old plan ends. |
| January 1, 2027 | New plan starts. If you chose nothing, you are in Original Medicare. |
| Up to 63 days after your old coverage ends | Last day to use your Medigap guaranteed issue right. |
What happens if you do nothing? You go back to Original Medicare automatically on January 1. But you will have no drug coverage unless you join a Part D plan. A long gap in drug coverage can bring a lifelong late penalty, so do not wait.
Path 1: Join another Medicare Advantage plan
This is often the simplest switch if you like the Advantage model.
Check these before you pick:
- Are your doctors and hospitals in the new plan’s network?
- Are all your drugs on its list, and at what tier?
- What is the out-of-pocket maximum?
- Which services need prior authorization?
- Did the extras you used, like dental or a grocery card, carry over?
Use the Medicare Plan Finder and our step-by-step guide to finding the best plan in your area. Our Medicare Advantage 2027 guide covers what to compare.
Path 2: Original Medicare plus Medigap and Part D
This path lets you see any doctor in the U.S. who takes Medicare, with no network and little prior authorization. It costs more each month, but it caps surprise bills.
Here is the key benefit of a plan leaving: you get a guaranteed issue right. That means a Medigap company must sell you certain policies, cannot charge more because of your health, and cannot add a waiting period for health problems you already have (CMS, Choosing a Medigap Policy).
Your right, in plain terms:
- Who: You are in a Medicare Advantage plan that is leaving Medicare or stopping care in your area, and you switch to Original Medicare.
- Which plans: Medigap Plan A, B, D, or G. If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, Plans C and F too.
- When: You can apply as early as 60 days before your Advantage coverage ends. You must apply no later than 63 days after it ends.
- Proof: Keep the non-renewal letter. The Medigap company may ask for it.
Outside a right like this, most states let Medigap companies turn you down or charge more for health problems. So if Original Medicare plus Medigap appeals to you, this may be your best chance. A few states have broader rights.
You will also need a separate Part D plan. Our Part D 2027 guide explains the new $2,400 out-of-pocket cap. Compare Medigap options in Medicare Plan G vs Plan N.
Path 3: Original Medicare plus Part D only
This has the lowest monthly cost, but there is no yearly cap on your 20% share of Part B costs. One hospital stay or cancer treatment can cost thousands. It can work for people who are healthy and have savings, or who qualify for Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program.
Pros and cons at a glance
| Path | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| New Advantage plan | Low or $0 premium, extras, yearly cap on costs | Networks, prior authorization, plan can change again |
| Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D | Any Medicare doctor, few surprise bills | Higher monthly premiums |
| Original Medicare + Part D | Low premiums, any Medicare doctor | No cap on your 20% share |
There is no single right answer. It depends on your health, your doctors, your drugs, and your budget. See Medicare Advantage vs Original Medicare for a deeper comparison.
A 5-step checklist for this week
- Find your letter. Note the date coverage ends and keep the letter for Medigap.
- List your doctors and drugs with doses.
- Compare plans on Medicare.gov with that list.
- Get free, unbiased help. Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free counseling. Find yours at shiphelp.org. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Enroll by December 7 for no gap. Write down your confirmation number.
Watch out for unsolicited calls claiming to be “from Medicare.” Medicare will not call you to sell a plan.
Common questions
What happens if my Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued?
You keep Medicare. If you do not pick a new plan, you go to Original Medicare on January 1 with no drug coverage, so join a Part D plan.
How long do I have to choose a new plan?
Pick by December 7, 2026, for coverage on January 1. You also have a special window from December 8, 2026, to February 28, 2027.
Can I get a Medigap policy without health questions?
Yes, in most cases. If your Advantage plan is leaving and you switch to Original Medicare, you have a guaranteed right to buy Medigap Plan A, B, D, or G (and C or F if eligible before 2020). Apply no later than 63 days after your coverage ends.
Will I get a late penalty for Part D?
You could if you go 63 days or more without drug coverage. Join a Part D or Advantage drug plan so coverage starts by January 1.
Where can I get free help?
Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program offers free, unbiased counseling. Find it at shiphelp.org, or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Written by Khasim Basha Shaik. I research and compare Medicare plans for readers. I am not a licensed insurance agent. This article summarizes Medicare.gov, CMS, and news reports and is not insurance advice. Last reviewed October 16, 2026.
