Will Your Doctors Still Be In-Network Next Year?
Provider networks change every year. Here's how to verify your doctors before AEP — and what to do if they're leaving.
You picked your Medicare Advantage plan because it had your doctors. But provider networks aren't permanent — they shrink, grow, and reshuffle every year. If you don't check before AEP, you might discover in January that your primary care doctor or specialist is no longer in-network.
Why networks change
Insurance companies renegotiate contracts with providers annually. A hospital system might drop out of one plan's network and join another's. A specialist group might leave entirely. These changes typically take effect January 1 — right when your new plan year starts.
Your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), mailed in September, will tell you if your provider network is changing. But it won't list every individual doctor — you need to verify that yourself.
How to check your doctors' network status
Make your provider list
Write down every doctor, specialist, hospital, and imaging center you've used in the past year. Don't forget your pharmacist if you use a preferred pharmacy for Part D.
Check the online provider directory
Go to your plan's website and search the provider directory for next year's plan. Search by name and specialty. If a doctor isn't listed, call the plan's member services to confirm.
Call your doctors' offices
Ask the billing department: 'Are you still in-network with [plan name] for next year?' They often know about contract changes before the directories are updated.
Compare alternative plans
If a key doctor is leaving, use AEP to find a plan that still includes them. A licensed agent can run your full provider list against every available plan in minutes.
What if your doctor is leaving?
If a doctor you rely on is leaving your plan's network, you have options:
- Switch plans during AEP to one that still includes your doctor
- Ask about a continuity of care period — some plans let you finish active treatment with an out-of-network doctor at in-network rates
- Check for a Special Enrollment Period — if your plan significantly changes its network, you may qualify
- Consider a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) — these plans have no networks; any doctor who accepts Original Medicare is covered
Tip: If keeping your doctors is your top priority, a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan may be worth considering. Medigap plans work with any doctor who accepts Original Medicare assignment — no network restrictions, ever.
Keep your doctors next year
A licensed Health Plus One agent can check your providers against every available plan — no cost, no pressure.
Not sure where you stand? Take a quick quiz
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This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical, legal, or financial advice. Provider networks, plan availability, and rules can change. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for all available options.
Health Plus One Agency is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.