Each year some Medicare Advantage plans stop serving a county, merge with another product, or leave a market entirely. For 2027, national reporting has highlighted exits and scale-backs in several large metro areas—including the Seattle area and parts of Texas such as Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston. If your plan is on that list, your current membership usually continues through December 31, 2026, but you must choose new coverage for January 1.
The first step is simple: open every piece of mail or email from your plan now. A termination or non-renewal notice looks different from the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) you may have read in September. The exit letter should name your last day of coverage and explain how to pick a replacement.
Two paths after a plan exit
Join another Medicare Advantage or Part D plan
Most people who want to stay in Medicare Advantage compare other plans in the same county. Annual Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, which overlaps with many exit situations. Use the official Plan Finder at Medicare.gov with your ZIP code, doctors, and drug list. Our 2027 Plan Finder guide explains star ratings, formulary links, and plan-exit alerts in the tool.
Return to Original Medicare and consider Medigap
If you prefer Original Medicare plus a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy, a plan exit can trigger a limited guaranteed-issue window for certain Medigap plans without health questions—if you apply on time and meet federal rules. That window is not the same as routine Open Enrollment. See our article on ANOC vs. non-renewal and Medigap rights for how the dates work.
Special Enrollment Period (SEP) basics
When Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage ends involuntarily, you generally receive a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in new coverage. The letter from your plan should describe your options. Do not assume you can wait until December 7 if your notice gives an earlier effective-date deadline for a seamless January 1 start.
- Save the termination notice. You may need it for Medicare, a new plan, or a Medigap application.
- List doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies before you shop so you can filter networks.
- Compare total cost—premium, drug tiers, copays, and out-of-pocket maximum—not just the monthly premium.
- Call SHIP or 1-800-MEDICARE if the letter is unclear about dates or rights.
Idaho, Oregon, Texas, and Washington
CDA Insurance serves clients in all four states. Exit patterns differ by county: a plan leaving Houston does not mean every Texas county loses that carrier. Likewise, Washington and Oregon members should confirm service-area maps on Plan Finder rather than relying on headlines alone.
If you received an exit notice and want to compare another Advantage plan versus Original Medicare with Medigap, call (800) 884-2343 or use the contact page. We can review timelines at no cost to you.
Plan ending in your county?
We help you read the notice, compare networks, and understand Medigap windows before they close.
This article is for general education. It is not a plan recommendation, quote, or guarantee of coverage. Benefits, premiums, networks, and eligibility vary by plan and county and can change. CDA Insurance LLC is an independent insurance agency and is not connected with the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Official program information is available at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.