By Qamar S, 15 years in US medical billing · Last reviewed September 28, 2026
If your Medicare Advantage plan is ending on December 31, 2026, you won’t lose Medicare. You can pick a new Medicare Advantage plan, or go back to Original Medicare and add a drug plan and a Medigap policy. Because your plan is leaving, you get extra time to choose and a guaranteed right to buy certain Medigap policies without health questions.
Several insurers are cutting plans for 2027. Humana alone says its plan exits affect about 600,000 members. If yours is one of them, your plan must send you a non-renewal letter in October.
Your key dates: Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026; choose by December 7 so new coverage starts January 1 with no gap. If you miss it, you have a special enrollment period from December 8, 2026 to February 28, 2027. Your guaranteed right to buy Medigap starts 60 days before your plan ends and lasts 63 days after.
What happens if you do nothing
If you don’t choose a new plan, you’ll be moved to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027. Original Medicare covers hospital and doctor care, but not most prescription drugs. Without a separate Part D plan you could face drug costs out of pocket, and possibly a late enrollment penalty later. So don’t wait.
Your three options
| Option | What you get | Good fit if |
|---|---|---|
| Another Medicare Advantage plan | Doctor, hospital and usually drug coverage in one plan, with a network and a yearly out-of-pocket limit | You like one card and low premiums, and your doctors are in the new plan’s network |
| Original Medicare + Part D + Medigap | Any doctor who takes Medicare, and Medigap pays most of your 20% share | You travel, see specialists, or want fewer prior authorizations |
| Original Medicare + Part D only | Any doctor who takes Medicare, but you pay 20% with no yearly limit | Rarely a good idea without other coverage |
Your guaranteed right to Medigap
Normally, outside your first Medigap enrollment period, insurers in most states can ask health questions and turn you down. When your Medicare Advantage plan leaves, federal law gives you a guaranteed issue right: insurers can’t refuse to sell you certain Medigap policies, can’t charge you more because of your health, and can’t make you wait for pre-existing conditions.
- Which plans: Medigap Plan A, B, D, G, K or L if you became eligible for Medicare in 2020 or later (Plans A, B, C, F, K or L if you were eligible before 2020).
- When: apply as early as 60 days before your coverage ends and no later than 63 days after.
- Keep your letter. The insurer may ask for proof that your plan ended.
Some states give you more rights than this. Your SHIP counselor can tell you your state’s rules.
Step by step
- Read your non-renewal letter and note the end date.
- List your doctors, hospitals, pharmacy and every drug you take.
- Compare plans in the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov starting October 15.
- If you’re considering Medigap, get quotes and apply within your guaranteed issue window.
- Enroll by December 7 so new coverage starts January 1.
- When your new cards arrive, check them against your first bills in January.
From 15 years in billing: when a patient’s plan changes in January, the first claims often go to the old plan and get denied. Give your doctor’s office your new card at your first visit of the year, and ask them to update your file before they bill.
Watch out for pressure sales
Expect more calls and mailers this fall. Medicare won’t call you to sell a plan. Don’t give your Medicare number to anyone who calls you first. For free, unbiased help, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at shiphelp.org or 1-877-839-2675, or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if my Medicare Advantage plan is not renewed for 2027?
You keep Medicare. If you do nothing, you are moved to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027, which does not cover most prescription drugs. You can choose a new Medicare Advantage plan, or Original Medicare with a Part D plan and a Medigap policy.
How long do I have to pick a new plan if mine is ending?
You can choose during Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, so coverage starts January 1. If you miss that, a special enrollment period runs from December 8, 2026 to the end of February 2027.
Can I buy Medigap without health questions if my plan is ending?
Yes. When your Medicare Advantage plan leaves, you have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans. Apply as early as 60 days before your plan ends and no later than 63 days after.
Which Medigap plans can I get with a guaranteed issue right?
Plans A, B, D, G, K or L if you became eligible for Medicare in 2020 or later, or Plans A, B, C, F, K or L if you were eligible before 2020. Some states give more rights.
Sources: Medicare.gov: Special Enrollment Periods · Medicare.gov: Plan Non-Renewal Notice · Medicare.gov: Buying Medigap · Becker’s Payer Issues: Humana 2027 exits
This guide is educational and is not legal, financial or insurance advice. MedBillGuide is not connected to Medicare, CMS or any government agency, and we do not sell insurance. See our Disclaimer.