A Medicare Advantage plan leaving your county in 2026 means your current coverage ends December 31, 2026 unless you choose a replacement. Every Medicare Advantage insurer that will not renew a contract must mail a non-renewal notice by October 2, 2026, at least 90 days before the contract year ends, and that letter is what opens your right to switch. Two windows apply. The Medicare Annual Election Period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and any plan you pick starts January 1, 2027. A dedicated non-renewal Special Enrollment Period (SEP) then runs December 8, 2026 through February 28, 2027, and a plan chosen in that window starts the first day of the month after the plan receives your request. Choosing nothing does not leave you uninsured. Medicare moves you to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) on January 1, 2027, but without a Part D drug plan and without a Medigap policy, so Part B's 20% coinsurance has no annual cap under Original Medicare in 2026 and drug costs are fully exposed. A plan leaving is not something you caused, so no penalty applies for switching and you do not need to prove anything beyond the notice. This guide lays out the dates, the three replacement paths, the Medigap guaranteed issue right, and the documents to gather, drawing on medicare.gov, cms.gov, and KFF.
Medigap guaranteed issue is the most time-sensitive right hidden inside a plan non-renewal. Under federal rules, you may apply for a Medigap policy no earlier than 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends and no later than 63 days after it ends. For a December 31, 2026 end date, that window is November 1, 2026 through March 4, 2027. Inside it, insurers must sell you Medigap Plan A, B, D, G, K, or L (and Plan C or F only if you were eligible for Medicare before 2020) without asking health questions or charging more for pre-existing conditions. Outside it, most states let insurers underwrite, and a single diagnosis can mean denial or a surcharge. Original Medicare's Part B premium is $202.90 per month in 2026 with a $283 deductible, and the Medigap premium comes on top of it. Medicare Advantage instead caps in-network out-of-pocket costs at a federal ceiling of $9,250 in 2026, which is why the choice is a real trade-off between a lower monthly bill and a predictable annual maximum. Compare both against your doctors and prescriptions before you decide.
6 Steps to Get Coverage
Common Mistakes That Cost People Thousands
Five errors cost Medicare Advantage members the most when a plan leaves their county in 2026:
- Ignoring the notice because coverage seems to continue. Your plan ends December 31, 2026, and Medicare will not automatically pick a new Medicare Advantage plan for you, so doing nothing lands you in Original Medicare on January 1, 2027 with no drug plan.
- Skipping Part D after returning to Original Medicare. Going 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage triggers a Part D late-enrollment penalty of 1% of the national base premium per month (2026 rules), and the penalty lasts for life.
- Waiting past March 4, 2027 to apply for Medigap. Guaranteed issue ends 63 days after your coverage ends, and after that most states allow insurers to use medical underwriting or deny you.
- Picking a replacement plan without checking the doctor network and formulary. A plan with a $0 premium in 2026 still fails you if your specialist or a key drug is not covered, so search every provider and prescription in Plan Finder first.
- Confusing a plan leaving the county with moving to a new county. A plan leaving triggers the non-renewal SEP through February 28, 2027, while a personal move triggers a separate SEP that runs from the month before you move to 2 full months after, so use the right trigger on your paperwork.
Key Dates for a Medicare Advantage Plan Leaving Your County: 2026 to 2027 Calendar
Medicare Advantage non-renewals follow one fixed calendar, and CMS sets each milestone in federal rules under 42 CFR 422. Plans that will not renew must mail written notice by October 2, 2026. The Annual Election Period opens October 15, 2026, and Medicare Plan Finder shows 2027 plan benefits, premiums, and networks by that date. The Annual Election Period closes December 7, 2026, and any change made in it takes effect January 1, 2027. The non-renewal Special Enrollment Period picks up the next day, December 8, 2026, and closes on the last day of February 2027, which is February 28, 2027. Members who stay in a Medicare Advantage plan also get the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, 2027, but that period allows only one change and does not let you add Part D to Original Medicare. The non-renewal SEP is broader, so use it first if your plan is leaving. Mid-year terminations follow different clocks: if the plan ends its contract with Medicare, your window starts 2 months before and ends 1 full month after the contract ends, and if CMS terminates the plan, it starts 1 month before and ends 2 full months after.
Medicare Advantage non-renewal calendar, 2026 to 2027| Date | What happens | Your action |
|---|
| October 2, 2026 | Plan must have mailed its non-renewal notice | Read the letter and note the plan ID |
| October 15, 2026 | Annual Election Period opens | Compare 2027 plans on Plan Finder |
| November 1, 2026 | Medigap guaranteed issue opens (60 days before coverage ends) | Apply for Medigap if returning to Original Medicare |
| December 7, 2026 | Annual Election Period closes | Last day to enroll for a January 1 start |
| December 31, 2026 | Your current plan ends | Confirm your replacement is confirmed in writing |
| February 28, 2027 | Non-renewal SEP closes | Last day to enroll under the SEP |
| March 4, 2027 | Medigap guaranteed issue ends (63 days after coverage ends) | Final day to apply without underwriting |
Dates assume a plan contract that ends December 31, 2026. Mid-year terminations use different windows. Verify at medicare.gov before acting.
Source: Medicare.gov Special Enrollment Periods; KFF Medicare Advantage plan non-renewal FAQ; 42 CFR 422.506
Medigap Guaranteed Issue in 2026 and 2027: What You Can Buy Without Medical Underwriting
Medigap guaranteed issue applies when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare or stops serving your area, and it is the main reason to act early. The federal right lets you apply from 60 days before coverage ends through 63 days after, so the 2026 to 2027 window runs November 1, 2026 through March 4, 2027. During it, insurers in your state must sell you Medigap Plan A, B, D, G, K, or L, and Plan C or F if you first became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, at the standard rate with no health questions. The right is tied to returning to Original Medicare, because Medigap coverage cannot start while you remain in Medicare Advantage. Apply directly with the insurer and include the notice as proof. Several states go further. New York and Connecticut run year-round Medigap guaranteed issue, so the 63-day clock matters less there, and California, Oregon, and other birthday-rule states add a yearly window after your birthday. Use your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, such as California's HICAP or New York's HIICAP, for free help comparing quotes from insurers in your ZIP code.
Documents Deepdive: Why Each Record Matters for Your Medicare Advantage SEP
Medicare asks for little proof for a plan-leaving SEP, but the right documents prevent delays with a new plan or a Medigap insurer. The non-renewal notice is the anchor record, because it names your plan, states the December 31, 2026 end date, and proves that the loss of coverage was not your choice. Medigap insurers use that letter to confirm your guaranteed issue right and skip health questions. Your red, white, and blue Medicare card shows your Medicare number and Part A and Part B start dates, which insurers need to place you in the right plan. A list of current doctors, pharmacies, and prescriptions, with dosages, lets you test every 2027 formulary and network in Plan Finder before you enroll. Recent income records matter if you might qualify for Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program, because state Medicaid agencies such as Medi-Cal, MassHealth, and AHCCCS use your 2026 income against the Federal Poverty Level. Marketplace paperwork such as Form 1095-A does not apply, because enrollees in Medicare cannot receive Marketplace premium tax credits.
Medicaid Pivot in 2026: Dual-Eligible Members Have Extra Switching Rights
Members who hold both Medicare and Medicaid, or who receive Extra Help with Part D costs, gain the strongest protections when a plan leaves the county. Dual-eligible members can use a monthly Special Enrollment Period to move into a standalone Part D plan or Original Medicare, and they can enroll in a dual-eligible special needs plan (D-SNP) that coordinates Medicare and Medicaid benefits. State Medicaid programs go by different names: California's Medi-Cal, Arizona's AHCCCS, Massachusetts's MassHealth, Wisconsin's BadgerCare, and Tennessee's TennCare. Medicaid enrollment is year-round, so apply the day your plan notice arrives rather than waiting for the Annual Election Period. The Medicare Savings Program can pay the 2026 Part B premium of $202.90 per month when your income is low enough, and QMB status also protects you from bills for Medicare-covered services. Income limits track the Federal Poverty Level, which is $15,960 for one person in 2026, so check your state Medicaid agency at medicaid.gov. Children in the household are handled separately by CHIP, and an adult on Medicare cannot use Marketplace subsidies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SEP window when my Medicare Advantage plan leaves my county?
Two windows apply for a plan ending December 31, 2026. The Annual Election Period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and your new plan starts January 1, 2027. The non-renewal Special Enrollment Period runs December 8, 2026 through February 28, 2027, and your new plan starts the first day of the month after the plan receives your request. Your plan must mail its notice by October 2, 2026. Medicare.gov confirms the December 8 to end-of-February non-renewal window. Enroll through Plan Finder at medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
How do I document that my Medicare Advantage plan is leaving my county?
Keep the non-renewal letter your plan mails by October 2, 2026, because it is the proof of your qualifying event. The letter names your plan, contract ID, and the December 31, 2026 end date. New Medicare Advantage plans usually verify the SEP electronically, so you rarely need to upload anything. Medigap insurers do ask for the notice as proof of your guaranteed issue right. Also keep your Medicare card, a list of doctors and prescriptions, and your confirmation number from any enrollment you complete. Call 1-800-MEDICARE if the letter never arrives.
What if I miss the SEP window for my Medicare Advantage plan leaving?
Missing February 28, 2027 leaves you in Original Medicare without Part D or Medigap unless you acted earlier. Members still in Medicare Advantage can use the January 1 to March 31, 2027 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period for one change, but people already returned to Original Medicare cannot add a drug plan until the next Annual Election Period, October 15 to December 7, 2027. A Part D late-enrollment penalty of 1% of the national base premium per month (2026 rules) accrues after 63 days without creditable drug coverage. Medigap guaranteed issue ends March 4, 2027.
Can I get retroactive coverage when my Medicare Advantage plan leaves?
No, Medicare Advantage and Part D enrollments are never retroactive. An Annual Election Period choice made by December 7, 2026 starts January 1, 2027, and a Special Enrollment Period choice starts the first day of the month after the plan receives your request. Original Medicare picks you up automatically on January 1, 2027 if you do nothing, so you have no gap in Part A and Part B, but you have no drug coverage. Request a January 1, 2027 Medigap effective date when you apply to avoid an unprotected month.
What is the difference between COBRA and Marketplace coverage after my plan leaves?
Neither replaces Medicare for most members. In 2026, COBRA continuation coverage costs 102% of the full premium and only helps if you or a spouse still works for an employer, and taking COBRA does not delay Part B without a penalty. A Marketplace plan through healthcare.gov cannot be used to skip Medicare once you are enrolled in Part A, and Medicare enrollees receive no premium tax credits, so no Form 1095-A applies. The Marketplace SEP of 60 days is separate from the Medicare SEP. Pick another Medicare Advantage plan or Original Medicare with Medigap instead.
What state-specific rules apply when my Medicare Advantage plan leaves?
Medigap rules vary by state. New York and Connecticut allow Medigap purchases year-round without underwriting, so the 63-day clock is less critical there. California, Oregon, Illinois, Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Maryland use a birthday rule that adds a yearly switching window. State programs also differ in name and help: Medi-Cal in California, AHCCCS in Arizona, MassHealth in Massachusetts, and BadgerCare in Wisconsin. Each state runs a free SHIP counseling program that explains your state's Medigap guaranteed issue timing and lists insurers selling policies in your ZIP code, so call shiphelp.org before your first Medigap application.
Do I qualify for Medicaid or the Medicare Savings Program after my plan leaves?
You may qualify if your 2026 income is near or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is $15,960 for one person at 100% in 2026. Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI) can pay your Part B premium of $202.90 per month in 2026, and Extra Help lowers Part D costs. Apply through your state Medicaid agency, such as Medi-Cal in California, at any time of year. Dual-eligible members can also switch plans monthly. Check the Medicaid income limits at medicaid.gov for your state, then ask your SHIP counselor to verify.
