Is your Medicare Advantage plan ending next year? Here's what to know

Key Points:

• A significant number of Medicare Advantage plans are being discontinued for 2027, leaving seniors in 193 mostly rural counties with no plan options and reducing choices in several major metro areas such as Dallas, Minneapolis, and Seattle.
• Medicare Advantage, chosen by over half of Medicare enrollees for its additional benefits and lower premiums, is vulnerable to market exits by private insurers when areas become unprofitable, a trend that has accelerated over the past three years.
• Seniors whose plans are ending must select a new plan during the open enrollment period (October 15 to December 7, 2026) or risk automatic assignment to another Medicare Advantage plan or traditional Medicare without supplemental coverage.
• This year, some Medicare Advantage plans may limit enrollments, so timely action is critical to secure preferred coverage; special enrollment periods and relaxed rules for Medigap plans apply for those switching due to plan closures.
• Seniors are advised to verify their plan status via Medicare.gov, seek assistance from State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP), local counseling services, or trusted brokers, and exercise caution with sharing personal information online to avoid scams.