My Medicare Advantage Plan Is Ending in 2027. Now What?

Short answer: don't panic, but don't sit on it either.

If your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving Medicare or leaving your area, you'll need new coverage for next year. You have more than one way to get it. You also have a few deadlines that matter.

Every fall I hear from folks around Springfield holding the same letter. It says their plan won't be back next year. Most of them have the same first question: "Did I lose my Medicare?"

No. You didn't.

Did I lose my Medicare?

Your Medicare isn't going anywhere. Your Part A and Part B stay right where they are.

What's ending is the private plan you picked to handle your Medicare benefits. Think of it like a grocery store closing. You don't stop eating. You just need to pick a new store. Ideally before the fridge is empty.

Plans that are leaving send a Plan Non-Renewal Notice. If you got one, keep it. It has dates on it you'll want later.

The mental model: one door closes, three doors open

Here's how I think about it. When your plan ends, you get to choose one of three paths:

1. Another Medicare Advantage plan. Pick a new plan that's offered in your county.
2. Original Medicare plus a Medicare Supplement and a drug plan. Go back to Original Medicare. Add a supplement (Medigap) to help with the bills Medicare doesn't pay. Add a separate Part D plan for prescriptions.
3. Original Medicare plus a drug plan only. Same as above, without the supplement.

None of these is right for everybody. Your doctors, your prescriptions, your health, and your budget decide it.

What are my deadlines?

There are two windows to know about.

Open Enrollment: October 15 to December 7. Anyone with Medicare can change plans here. If you pick a new plan in this window, it starts January 1. That's the cleanest handoff.

The plan non-renewal Special Enrollment Period: December 8 to the last day of February. Because your plan is ending, you get extra time. You can still join another plan during this window. A plan you pick here generally starts the first day of the next month.

My take? Use the first window if you can. Extra time is nice. But waiting until January can leave you with a gap.

What happens if I do nothing?

This is the part that trips people up.

If you don't join a new Medicare Advantage plan before your current one ends, you'll be put back in Original Medicare. That means Part A and Part B. That's it.

You won't automatically get:

• Drug coverage. If your old plan included prescriptions, that coverage ends with the plan. You'd need to join a separate Part D plan yourself.
• A Medicare Supplement. Nobody signs you up for one. You have to apply.

One exception: Extra Help. If you get Extra Help paying for prescriptions, watch for a blue notice. It says you'll be placed in a drug plan if you don't pick one yourself. Still worth comparing. The plan you're placed in may not be the best fit for your drugs.

Why does the drug piece matter so much? Going without creditable drug coverage for too long can mean a Part D late enrollment penalty. That penalty can stick with you. So if you're going back to Original Medicare, line up the drug plan too.

Can I get a Medicare Supplement if my Advantage plan ends?

In a lot of cases, yes, and this is a big one.

Normally, if you're past your first Medigap window, an insurance company can ask health questions. They can say no or charge more based on your health.

But when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare or stops serving your area, federal law gives you a guaranteed issue right. That means an insurance company:

• Must sell you certain Medigap policies.
• Must cover your pre-existing conditions.
• Can't charge you more because of past or present health problems.

A few rules come with it:

• You have to go back to Original Medicare. This right doesn't apply if you join another Medicare Advantage plan.
• Timing matters. You can apply as early as 60 days before your plan coverage ends (or by the date in your plan's termination notice). You have no more than 63 days after your plan coverage ends.
• Not every policy is included. The policies you can pick under this right depend partly on when you first became eligible for Medicare. We'll walk you through which ones apply to you.

For a lot of folks I talk to, this is the first real chance in years to look at a supplement without health questions. That doesn't mean it's the right move. Supplements usually cost more each month. But it's worth knowing the door is open.

If you're in Missouri, there's also a yearly anniversary rule for people who already have a Medigap policy. I cover that on our Missouri Medicare page.

How do I pick a new plan?

Here's what I'd do, in order:

1. Find your letter. Note the date your plan ends and any deadline it lists.
2. Make your list. Doctors, hospitals, pharmacy, and every prescription with the dose.
3. See what's offered where you live. Plug your ZIP into our Medicare plan checker to see how many plans are in your county for next year.
4. Compare plans against your list. Our plan finder lets you narrow plans down and check your drugs.
5. If a supplement is on the table, price it. Our Medicare Supplement rates tool shows rates by ZIP.
6. Pick before December 7 if you can. Then your new coverage starts January 1, with no gap.

Don't just pick the plan your neighbor has. Your neighbor doesn't take your prescriptions.

Want a second set of eyes?

If you got one of these letters, bring it in. We'll go through your options with you and compare plans side by side.

Call us at (417) 633-7200 or stop by our Springfield office at 3616 S Campbell Ave.

Let's get you set up for next year.

Frequently asked questions

Will my Medicare Advantage plan send me a letter if it's ending?

Yes. Plans leaving Medicare or leaving your area send a Plan Non-Renewal Notice before the end of the year. If you think your plan is ending and haven't seen a letter, call the plan.

If my plan ends, do I lose my Medicare?

No. Your Part A and Part B stay in place. Only the private plan ends. If you do nothing, you go back to Original Medicare.

How long do I have to pick a new plan?

You can change during Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7. Because your plan is ending, you also get a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 to the last day of February.

Can I switch to a Medicare Supplement without health questions?

Often, yes. When your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare or your area, you generally get a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap policies. You have to go back to Original Medicare and apply on time.

Do I need a separate drug plan if I go back to Original Medicare?

Usually, yes. Original Medicare doesn't include most prescription drug coverage. Join a Part D plan so you aren't left without drug coverage.