What to Do If Your Medicare Advantage Plan Ends in 2027

A Medicare Advantage or Part D plan may leave Medicare, decline to renew its contract, or reduce its service area for the next plan year. If your 2027 coverage is affected, do not assume that the same plan, doctors or drug coverage will continue automatically. Read the plan notice and compare your replacement options before the applicable deadline.

This guide explains the general steps for California beneficiaries. Your exact election period and rights depend on why the plan is ending and the language in the official notice.

First, identify what is changing

A notice may describe one of several situations:

• Plan non-renewal: The Medicare Advantage, Medicare drug or Medicare Cost Plan contract will not be renewed for the next year.
• Contract termination: Medicare or the plan ends the contract.
• Service-area reduction: The plan continues elsewhere but will no longer serve your county, ZIP code or approved service area.
• Benefit or network change: The plan continues, but costs, covered drugs, providers or other rules change. This is not always the same as a plan termination.

The notice should state the effective date and describe alternatives for obtaining Medicare coverage. Keep the complete notice because it may also be needed to document a Special Enrollment Period or a Medigap guaranteed-issue right.

When can you select another plan?

The timing is not identical in every situation. Medicare’s current Special Enrollment Period guidance says:

• If a Medicare Advantage, Part D or Cost Plan contract is not renewed, the opportunity to switch generally runs from December 8 through the last day of February of the following year.
• If Medicare terminates the plan’s contract, the opportunity generally starts one month before the contract ends and continues for two full months afterward.
• If the plan ends its contract with Medicare, or the plan and Medicare agree to end it, the opportunity generally starts two months before the contract ends and continues for one full month afterward.

These periods are separate from the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, which runs October 15 through December 7. Use the dates printed in your notice or confirm them with 1-800-MEDICARE because the applicable rule depends on the event.

What happens if you do nothing?

Medicare.gov explains that if a Medicare Advantage plan ends and you do not join another Medicare Advantage plan before coverage ends, you may be returned to Original Medicare. Prescription coverage requires separate attention: depending on the situation, you may need to choose a standalone Part D plan to avoid an unintended gap.

Do not rely only on an automatic transition. Verify the effective date of the new coverage and how your prescriptions will be covered starting January 1 or the date stated in the notice.

Five items to compare before switching

1. Doctors and hospitals: Confirm each important provider directly with the plan and the provider’s office. For a step-by-step process, review our 2027 Medicare doctor-network checklist.
2. Prescription drugs: Enter your current drugs, dosages and pharmacies in Medicare Plan Finder and review formulary restrictions.
3. Total annual cost: Compare premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance and the in-network maximum out-of-pocket amount.
4. Prior authorization and referrals: Check whether ongoing services or specialist visits require new approvals.
5. Supplemental benefits: Treat dental, vision, hearing, transportation and allowance benefits as plan-specific and verify the 2027 evidence of coverage.

Start with the official Medicare Plan Finder for 2027, then confirm details in the plan’s official documents.

Could you switch to Original Medicare and Medigap?

Some people whose Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare, stops serving their area, or makes a significant network change may have federal Medigap guaranteed-issue rights if they return to Original Medicare. Medicare’s current Medigap guide explains that the application window can begin 60 days before Medicare Advantage coverage ends and generally cannot extend beyond 63 days after it ends.

Guaranteed-issue rights are situation-specific, and California may provide additional protections. Do not cancel existing coverage before confirming the effective date and acceptance of the replacement coverage.

2027 plan-ending checklist

• Save the non-renewal, termination or service-area notice.
• Write down the current plan’s last day and the election deadline.
• List doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, pharmacies and ongoing treatments.
• Compare both Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare pathways.
• Confirm Part D coverage if choosing Original Medicare.
• Ask about Medigap rights before the application window closes.
• Keep proof of enrollment and verify the new plan’s effective date.

For the standard fall schedule, see our Medicare Open Enrollment 2027 checklist. If your current plan is continuing but changing benefits, review our 2027 Annual Notice of Change guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is a plan benefit change the same as a plan termination?

No. A plan can continue while changing premiums, copays, drug coverage or networks. The official notice will identify whether the contract or service area is ending.

Will I lose Medicare if my Medicare Advantage plan ends?

No. Medicare eligibility does not end simply because a private plan ends. You must determine whether to join another plan or receive coverage through Original Medicare and arrange prescription coverage as needed.

Can I keep my doctor?

It depends on the replacement coverage. Check both the plan directory and the provider’s office, and confirm the exact plan name and network for 2027.

Official sources

• Medicare.gov: Special Enrollment Periods
• CMS: 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D enrollment guidance
• Medicare.gov: Choosing a Medigap Policy

This is general educational information. It does not confirm that any particular carrier or plan will end in 2027. Rely on your plan’s official notice, Medicare.gov and the plan’s 2027 documents.

Need help reviewing replacement options?

Skyline Benefit can help California Medicare beneficiaries review a plan-ending notice, confirm important dates, and compare replacement coverage based on doctors, prescriptions, benefits, and expected costs. Questions about your Medicare options? Call Skyline Benefit at (714) 888-5112 or request a consultation.