Your Medicare Plan Was Discontinued for 2027 — Here's What to Do

If you received a letter from your insurance carrier saying your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan won't be available in 2027, you're not alone. Every year, carriers evaluate their plan offerings and decide which plans to keep, change, or discontinue. It can feel alarming, but you have options — and a clear window to act.

What does "plan discontinued" actually mean?

When a carrier discontinues a plan, it means that specific plan — identified by its unique plan ID — will not be offered for the upcoming plan year. This is different from a plan being "terminated," which can happen mid-year for other reasons. A discontinuation happens at the end of the calendar year, which means you have the full Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) to find a replacement.

Importantly, this does not affect your Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Those stay in place no matter what happens with your Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan. Only the private plan administered by your carrier is ending.

Why do carriers discontinue plans?

Carriers make these decisions for a variety of business and regulatory reasons:

• Low enrollment: A plan may not have enough members to be financially sustainable.
• Regulatory changes: CMS updates its rules each year, and some plans may no longer meet new requirements.
• Cost structures: If a plan's costs to the carrier have risen beyond what premiums and CMS payments can cover, the carrier may pull it.
• Portfolio simplification: Carriers sometimes consolidate similar plans into fewer offerings.

Your enrollment windows

If your plan is being discontinued, you have several enrollment opportunities:

Step-by-step: What to do if your plan is discontinued

1. Read the notice carefully

Your carrier is required to send you a formal notice by October 1. This letter will tell you exactly which plan is ending, when it ends, and what your options are. Keep this letter — you may need it to prove your eligibility for a Special Enrollment Period later.

2. Check if your doctors and prescriptions are affected

If your current plan is ending, you'll need a new one. Start by making a list of your doctors, specialists, and prescriptions. When you compare replacement plans, you'll want to confirm that your providers are in-network and your medications are on the plan's formulary.

3. Compare replacement plans

You can compare plans available in your area on Medicare.gov or — easier — work with a licensed independent broker who can compare plans from multiple carriers at once. Look at:

• Monthly premium (many plans are $0)
• Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit
• Copays for services you use often (PCP, specialist, ER)
• Prescription drug coverage and formulary tiers
• Extra benefits like dental, vision, hearing, OTC, and transportation

4. Enroll before December 7

Once you've chosen a plan, enroll during AEP (October 15 – December 7) to ensure your new coverage starts January 1 with no gap. If you miss AEP, you can still use your Special Enrollment Period, but it's best to act within the main window to avoid any confusion.

Common questions

Will I lose my Medicare?

No. Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) is not affected. Only your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan is ending — and you'll have the opportunity to choose a new one.

What if I do nothing?

If you don't enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan, you'll automatically return to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) on January 1. However, you'll lose your Part D prescription drug coverage unless you enroll in a standalone Part D plan — and you may face a late enrollment penalty if you go without creditable drug coverage for 63 or more consecutive days.

Can I get help comparing plans?

Yes. Licensed independent brokers like Health Plus One can compare plans from 30+ carriers, verify your doctors and prescriptions are covered, and handle the enrollment — at no cost to you. Brokers are paid by the carriers, not by you.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and your guaranteed issue rights

If your Medicare Advantage plan is being discontinued, you have a powerful option many people don't know about: you can switch to a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan instead of enrolling in another Medicare Advantage plan — and thanks to your loss of coverage, you may qualify for guaranteed issue rights, meaning you can enroll without answering any health questions or going through medical underwriting.

A Medicare Supplement plan works alongside Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Instead of replacing Original Medicare like a Medicare Advantage plan does, a Medigap plan pays for some or all of the out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover — such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. Many people who have high medical expenses or who want predictable costs prefer Medigap because of its flexibility: you can see any doctor who accepts Medicare, with no network restrictions.

The key difference from a Medicare Advantage plan is that Medigap plans typically do not include prescription drug coverage (Part D), so you'll need to enroll in a standalone Part D plan as well. Our brokers can help you pair the right Medigap plan with a Part D plan that covers your medications at the lowest cost.

If your plan is being discontinued and you're considering Medigap, act quickly. Your guaranteed issue rights are time-sensitive. A licensed broker can walk you through your options, compare Medigap plans available in your area, and make sure you don't miss the deadline.

The bottom line

A plan discontinuation is not an emergency — but it is a deadline. You have from October 15 to December 7 to choose a new plan, and the sooner you start comparing, the more time you'll have to find one that fits your needs and budget. Don't wait for the last week of AEP, when call volumes are highest and appointments are harder to get.

If you've received a discontinuation notice — or even if you're just not sure — reach out. A 15-minute call with a licensed broker can save you hours of research and make sure you don't miss a critical deadline.

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