Quick answer
If your Medicare Advantage plan isn’t renewing for 2027, you can pick a new plan during open enrollment (through December 7) or use a Special Enrollment Period that lasts through the last day of February. If you do nothing, you go back to Original Medicare without drug coverage. If you return to Original Medicare, you may have up to 63 days after your coverage ends to buy certain Medigap policies without health questions.
Key dates
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Open enrollment | October 15 to December 7, 2026 |
| Special Enrollment Period for non-renewals | Through the last day of February 2027 |
| Medigap guaranteed issue (federal) | Up to 63 days after your old coverage ends |
| New coverage starts | January 1 if you choose by December 31 |
Last reviewed October 27, 2026 by Greg Wilson. Sources: KFF, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Medicare.gov. Partner links may earn SeniorAffair a commission.
Plan exits are hitting more people than usual this year. A non-renewal letter can feel alarming, but you have more time and more rights than you might think. Here’s a simple plan you can finish in a week.
Day 1: Read the letter and keep it
Find the non-renewal notice from your plan (plans must mail it by early October). Note the date your coverage ends, which is usually December 31. Keep the letter with your Medicare papers, because it proves your right to a Special Enrollment Period and, if you go to Original Medicare, your Medigap rights.
Day 2: List your drugs, doctors and pharmacy
Write down every prescription with its dose, the pharmacy you use, and the doctors and hospitals you want to keep. Our free open enrollment checklist has a page for this.
Day 3: See what’s available in your county
Enter your ZIP code and prescriptions in the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov. In some rural counties there may be no Medicare Advantage drug plans left. If that’s you, read No drug plan in your county?.
Day 4: Choose your path
- Another Medicare Advantage plan. Compare the out-of-pocket maximum, drug costs and whether your doctors are in network, not just the premium.
- Original Medicare plus Medigap plus Part D. Higher monthly premiums, but you can see any doctor who takes Medicare and costs are more predictable. Your plan’s exit may give you a one-time chance to buy Medigap without health questions.
- Original Medicare plus Part D only. Lowest premium, but no cap on your 20% share of Part B costs.
See Medicare Advantage vs Original Medicare for the trade-offs.
Find drug coverage that fits your county
A licensed agent from our partner can compare Original Medicare, Part D, Medigap and any Medicare Advantage plans in your ZIP code at no cost to you.
Partner link: SeniorAffair may earn a commission. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Day 5: Check Medigap timing if you’re leaving Medicare Advantage
Under federal law, you have up to 63 days after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends to buy certain Medigap plans with guaranteed issue protections. Some states offer broader rights. Apply early and include a copy of your non-renewal letter. Our Medigap cost guide shows typical prices.
Day 6: Don’t forget drug coverage
If you go to Original Medicare, join a stand-alone Part D plan at the same time so coverage starts January 1. There are no $0-premium stand-alone plans for people without Extra Help in 2027, so compare total yearly costs. If your income is limited, apply for Extra Help.
Day 7: Enroll and confirm
Enroll through Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE or a licensed agent. Write down your confirmation number and watch for your new ID card. Choosing by December 7 is safest, but you have until the end of February under the Special Enrollment Period. Coverage starts the first of the month after you enroll.
Free: Medicare Open Enrollment Checklist. A printable two-page list of what to check before December 7, with space for your drugs and doctors. Get the checklist
Watch out for
- Calls offering to “fix” your Medicare. Medicare won’t call you to ask for your Medicare number. Hang up and call your plan or 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Assuming you’ll be moved to a similar plan. You won’t be. You return to Original Medicare unless you choose something.
- Letting drug coverage lapse. Going 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage can mean a lifetime penalty.
Common questions
What happens if I do nothing?
You’ll be enrolled in Original Medicare when your plan ends. You won’t have drug coverage unless you join a Part D plan.
Can I wait until January to decide?
Yes, the Special Enrollment Period runs through the last day of February. But you could have a gap in coverage, so deciding by December is better.
Will my doctors still see me?
On Original Medicare, any doctor who accepts Medicare can see you. On a new Medicare Advantage plan, check each doctor’s network status for 2027.
Related: Counties with no Medicare Advantage drug plans · Open enrollment 2027 guide
Part of our Medicare Guide. Costs, enrollment deadlines, Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap, Part D and what Medicare covers, all in one place. See the full guide →
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