Did You Get a Letter Saying Your Medicare Advantage Plan is Exiting Your Area (Plan Non-Renewal Notice)?

Did you just open your mail to find a Non-Renewal Notice? 

If so, you might be anxiously wondering what this is about, how it affects your Medicare coverage, and what you can do about it. 

If you received one of these letters, you are not alone. Millions of people have been affected by Medicare Advantage plan terminations in recent years. A KFF analysis of CMS data found that about 2.6 million people had their Medicare Advantage drug plan coverage end after 2025, around 13% of enrollees in individual plans. The same analysis found that nearly 99% of them had at least one replacement plan available in their area. Even if your plan is staying, your coverage may be changing. It is worth reviewing your plan documents closely this year.

In this article, we’ll look at what Non-Renewal Notices are, a step-by-step guide on what you can do if you receive this notice, what will happen if you ignore the notice, and some tips on how you can get help. 

What Are Plan Non-Renewal Notices?

Whenever an insurance company discontinues a Medicare Advantage Plan, they are required to inform everyone enrolled in that plan of the change. Insurance companies should send their beneficiaries a Non-Renewal Notice, and if you receive a Non-Renewal Notice, your Medicare Advantage Plan should be closing on January 1 of the following year. 

Under federal rules, plans that are not renewing their Medicare contract generally need to send written notice at least 90 calendar days before the change takes effect. For a plan ending January 1, that typically means the notice arrives by early October. The notice should also include information about other plan options in your area and about your Medigap guaranteed issue rights. Read the whole letter, not just the first page.

There are several exceptions to this, but that is generally how things should go when an insurance company is discontinuing a Medicare Advantage Plan in a certain area. 

Not everyone whose plan is discontinued gets a non-renewal notice. If your insurance company offers a similar plan in your area, you may be moved into that plan automatically. This is sometimes called consolidation or crosswalking. In that case, you would generally receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) instead of a non-renewal notice. You typically would not need to take any action to stay covered. You can still switch plans during the Annual Enrollment Period if the new plan does not suit you. This is why two neighbors with the same insurance company can receive very different letters in the fall.

What To Do If You Receive a Non-Renewal Notice: 3 Steps to Take

If you’ve just received a Non-Renewal Notice, you can follow these three steps to transfer to another plan in your area. 

There are two main paths you can take. The first is to choose another Medicare Advantage plan. You can look for another PPO, or you can consider an HMO plan instead. Check everything that is available in your area. Some areas have fewer plans than before, and some plans now charge a monthly premium. The remaining options may still be a good fit. The second path is to pair Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement plan. Both paths are covered in the steps below.

Step #1: Search for a New Plan During the Annual Enrollment Period

Every year from October 15 to December 7, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. This period is known as the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), and any plan changes you make during this period will take effect on January 1 of the following year. 

If your Medicare Advantage plan is closing, this is the time to shop for another plan that fits your needs. You can switch to any Medicare Advantage Plan available in your area. 

Step #2: Consider a Medicare Supplement Plan

Aside from switching to another Medicare Advantage Plan, you can also choose to enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan instead. 

Usually, if you try to enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan more than six months after your Medicare Part B coverage starts, you may have to go through medical underwriting. Medical underwriting is a process where the insurance company asks you several health-related questions to see if you qualify for their plan. Insurance companies can deny your application if you don’t pass their criteria, or they may charge you higher premiums. 

However, if you are losing your Medicare Advantage Plan coverage because your plan is leaving the Medicare Market, you’re entitled to guaranteed issue rights for Medicare Supplement A, B, C, D, F, G. During the guaranteed issue rights period—which starts 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends, and ends 63 days after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends—you can typically enroll in these plans without undergoing medical underwriting. 

One detail surprises many people: these guaranteed issue rights generally do not cover every Medigap plan. In this situation, there is typically no guaranteed issue right for Plan N. Under federal rules, the plans you can generally buy are Plan A, B, D, or G. Plan C or F may also be an option if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. Plan G tends to be the most common choice in this situation.

Also, keep the letter that says your plan is ending, and keep the envelope it came in. That letter is usually your proof of guaranteed issue rights. With it, you can typically enroll without health questions. This window can matter even more if you have health conditions that could make medical underwriting difficult later. It may be one of your few chances to get a Medicare Supplement plan, so weigh it carefully against the costs.

If a standard Plan G premium does not fit your budget, some states offer a high-deductible Plan G. It provides the same coverage as Plan G after you meet a deductible. That deductible is $2,950 in 2026, per the official Medicare guide. In exchange, the monthly premium tends to be much lower. For some people leaving a Medicare Advantage PPO, it can be a useful middle ground.

Note: Keep in mind that Medicare Supplement Plans don’t have built-in prescription drug coverage. If you are currently getting your prescription drug coverage from your closing Medicare Advantage Plan, and you intend to switch to a Medicare Supplement Plan, you may want to consider also enrolling in a standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan during the Annual Enrollment Period. 

Step #3: Contact a Licensed Insurance Agent for Help

If you’re confused, you can contact a licensed insurance agent to help you make sense of all the moving parts, and to help you land on the right plan fit for you. 

Licensed insurance agents work with several different insurance companies in your area, so they can provide you with unbiased help finding the right plan for you. You may ask them any questions you have, and their job is to help you understand everything that is going on with your coverage, and help you compare all your options. 

Licensed insurance agents are paid by insurance, so you may get their services at no cost to you. 

Note: looking for an unbiased licensed insurance agent? Call or text us at +1 877-360-6565 (TTY: 711) and our team of agents would be glad to assist you!

What Happens if You Don’t Enroll in Another Plan?

If you’ve received a Non-Renewal Notice and you don’t enroll in a new plan before the year ends, you will typically lose your coverage on January 1 of the following year. During this time, your coverage will be reverted back to Original Medicare, and you may be at higher out-of-pocket risk. 

If you want to enroll in a new Medicare Advantage Plan, you may also have to wait for the next Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) before you can do so. 

Generally speaking, if your plan is shutting down in 2025, you can technically switch plans until February 28. However, if you wait this long, you would be without full coverage from January 1 to February 28. That’s why most insurance agents recommend you get new coverage by December 31.

If your insurance company is not renewing your Medicare Advantage Plan, you also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. This period runs from December 8 to the last day of February of the following year. During this time, you may enroll in another Medicare Advantage Plan available in your area. 

The date you enroll during a Special Enrollment Period generally determines when your new coverage starts. Enrollments from October 15 through December 31 typically take effect on January 1. Enrollments in January typically take effect on February 1. Enrollments in February typically take effect on March 1.

This timing matters. Your old plan’s coverage generally ends on December 31. If you wait until January to pick a new plan, your new coverage would typically not start until February 1. That could leave you without the coverage you want, including prescription drug coverage, for all of January. This is why many people aim to choose a new plan by December 31, even though the Special Enrollment Period runs longer.

There is one more reason to avoid a long gap. Per CMS, going 63 days or more in a row without creditable prescription drug coverage may lead to a Part D late enrollment penalty when you sign up for drug coverage again. If your closing plan included drug coverage and you return to Original Medicare without a stand-alone drug plan, that clock generally starts when your old coverage ends.

One group generally has extra protection here: people who get Extra Help, the Part D low-income subsidy. If your ending plan included drug coverage and you receive Extra Help, Medicare typically reassigns you to a drug plan automatically. You can still choose a different plan if the assigned one does not fit your needs.

Conclusion – Don’t Wait, Take Action!

Receiving a Non-Renewal Notice can be stressful, especially if you’re not sure what you can do about it. However, if you stay calm and follow the three steps above, you should be able to enroll in a new plan that’s the right fit for you without problems. 

However, if you’re looking for professional help and guidance in finding the right plan for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at +1 877-360-6565 (TTY: 711), and we’d be more than happy to assist you!