Your MAPD Is Ending 12/31. Here's What That Non-Renewal Letter Really Means.
Updated: 4 days ago
A letter shows up in early October. It says your Medicare Advantage Part D (MAPD) plan will not be offered in 2027. It reads like bad news. It is closer to a door opening — and the door does not stay open long.
What the letter is actually telling you
Your plan ends December 31, 2026. You are not losing Medicare. Your Part A and Part B stay exactly as they are. What ends is the private plan that has been managing them for you. Carriers send these notices by early October, so if a plan in your area is going away, the letter should be in your hands before Annual Enrollment opens.
What happens if you set the letter aside
If you do nothing, January 1 arrives and you are back on Original Medicare — with no drug coverage and no supplement. Your out-of-pocket costs are open-ended. A Part D late enrollment penalty may then be added to your premium for as long as you have drug coverage.
You have two windows, not one
1) Annual Enrollment: October 15 through December 7, 2026. Choose here and your new coverage starts January 1 with no gap.
2) The non-renewal window: December 8 through the end of February. This exists because your plan is leaving. Treat it as a safety net, not a plan — using it can still leave you with a gap in January.
If you want coverage to be continuous, decide by December 7.
Takeaway
Your plan is ending. Your Medicare is not. The letter is a deadline and an opening at the same time, and the opening is the part with a clock on it.
Bring us your letter. We will read it with you and take the confusion out.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. Benefits, costs, and coverage vary by plan and area. Medicare rules may change.
Content for educational purposes only. AskGen is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Sources
Medicare.gov, Special Enrollment Periods — the window to join a new plan when a plan's contract with Medicare is not renewed: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan/special-enrollment-periods
Medicare.gov, When can I buy a Medigap policy? — guaranteed issue timing when a Medicare Advantage plan leaves: https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/ready-to-buy/when
Comments