Did You Recently Have Your Medicare Advantage Plan Terminated?

Insurance companies can decide not to renew a Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan, or to stop offering it in certain counties. When that happens, the insurance company must mail members a written non-renewal notice at least 90 days before coverage ends, which means by early October for coverage ending December 31, 2026. The letter does not mean you did anything wrong, and it does not affect your Medicare Part A and Part B. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies issued since 1992 work differently: they are guaranteed renewable, so an insurer cannot drop yours by choice, and it can end only for a few reasons, such as unpaid premiums or false information on your application.

If your plan is not being renewed, the insurance company must mail you a non-renewal notice that names the plan, at least 90 days before coverage ends, which means by early October 2026. If your plan is being combined with another plan instead, you get an Annual Notice of Change by September 30, and that letter does not come with the non-renewal Special Enrollment Period. Not every plan is affected. A licensed agent will confirm whether your plan is ending and compare the plans we offer in your county.

You can compare plans as soon as your letter arrives, but you cannot enroll in a 2027 Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan before the Annual Enrollment Period opens on October 15, 2026 (a Medicare Supplement application is not limited to that window). That period runs through December 7, 2026, and coverage you choose then starts January 1, 2027. A plan that is not renewed also gives you a Special Enrollment Period from December 8, 2026 through February 28, 2027, so you still have time if you miss December 7. Choices made by December 31 start January 1, choices made in January start February 1, and choices made in February start March 1. If your plan is being combined with another plan instead of ending, this Special Enrollment Period does not apply.

Several insurers have sold Medicare Advantage plans across Central New York, and Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement is available everywhere in New York. Which plans are offered for 2027 depends on your county, so the agent will ask which county you live in. Insurers began sharing their 2027 plans on October 1, 2026.

Have a list of your doctors ready for the call. Before you choose, the agent checks each doctor and hospital system, such as Upstate University Hospital, Crouse Health, St. Joseph's Health, Mohawk Valley Health System, Rochester Regional Health, University of Rochester Medicine (formerly UR Medicine), and UHS in Binghamton, against the network of every plan you are considering. Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement is accepted by any provider that takes Medicare.

If your Medicare Advantage plan ends and you do not choose a new plan, you return to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) on January 1, 2027 with no Medicare drug coverage and no cap on out-of-pocket costs. People who get Extra Help, and will still have it in 2027, are the exception for drug coverage: Medicare assigns them to a standalone drug plan unless they choose one themselves. Going without Part D drug coverage can also add a late-enrollment penalty that most people pay for as long as they have Part D. Choosing a replacement by December 31 avoids a gap. If your plan was not renewed, you can still choose one through the last day of February 2027, but a choice made in January starts February 1 and one made in February starts March 1.

Yes, if your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan is not renewed: you get a Special Enrollment Period in addition to the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7). The non-renewal Special Enrollment Period runs from December 8 through the last day of February 2027, so you can still make a change after the Annual Enrollment Period closes. Choices made by December 31 start January 1, choices made in January start February 1, and choices made in February start March 1. If your plan is being combined with another plan instead of ending, this Special Enrollment Period does not apply. A licensed agent can confirm the exact window that applies to you.

Federal law, in every state, gives you a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap plans with no medical underwriting when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare or stops serving your area and you switch to Original Medicare. The window opens when you receive the plan's termination notice and closes 63 days after your coverage ends. Some states, including New York, go further and allow Medigap enrollment year-round without health questions. In New York, if your new Medigap coverage starts within 63 days after your old coverage ends, that coverage also counts toward reducing or eliminating a pre-existing condition waiting period of up to six months.

That depends on the replacement plan. Medicare Advantage plans use networks, so the agent asks for your doctors first and checks them against the plans available in Central New York. Original Medicare with a Medigap plan is accepted by any provider that takes Medicare. Drug coverage is compared plan by plan against your prescription list.

When in-person help sessions are scheduled in Syracuse, Utica, Rochester and nearby communities, they are listed in the Upcoming Meetings section of this page with the date, location, hours, and what kind of session it is. Bring your Medicare card and any letter from your plan.

No. There is no fee to talk with a licensed agent, compare plans, or enroll. Agents may be paid by the insurance company you choose, not by you, and the premium is the same whether you enroll through an agent or directly.

No. CNY Medicare Options is run by a licensed insurance agency. It connects people whose Medicare Advantage plan is ending with licensed insurance agents. It is not an insurance company, and it is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 6 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. To talk with a licensed agent, call (315) 992-1822 or complete the short form on this page.