The short answer
If your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan is leaving your area or ending, you'll get a non-renewal notice — usually in the fall. It can feel alarming, but it's manageable: a plan exit triggers a special enrollment period that lets you choose new coverage, and you have protections so you don't get stranded.
The key is not to ignore the notice. If you do nothing, you could end up without the coverage you need come January.
What the notice means and your deadlines
A non-renewal notice means that specific plan won't be available to you next year. Because of that, you get a special enrollment window that generally runs from when you're notified into the start of the new year, giving you time to select a replacement. During this window you can pick a different Advantage plan, or move to Original Medicare with a Part D plan and possibly a Medigap supplement.
One thing worth knowing: when your Advantage plan is discontinued, you may also gain certain guaranteed-issue rights to buy a Medigap plan, which can be valuable if you want to return to Original Medicare.
How to choose a replacement
Don't just grab whatever the plan suggests as a replacement — treat it as a fresh decision. Compare the available options against your doctors, your prescriptions, and your budget, the same way you would during open enrollment. A plan exit is actually a good moment to reassess whether your whole approach still fits.
Our side-by-side plan comparison helps you weigh replacements, and our Medicare Advantage overview explains what to check on a new plan before you enroll.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my Medicare plan isn't renewed?
You get a special enrollment period to choose new coverage — a different Advantage plan, or Original Medicare with a Part D plan and possibly a Medigap supplement. The plan simply won't be available next year.
How long do I have to pick a new plan?
The special enrollment window generally runs from when you're notified into the start of the new year, giving you time to compare and select a replacement.
Do I get Medigap rights when my plan is discontinued?
Often yes. A discontinued Advantage plan can trigger guaranteed-issue rights to buy certain Medigap plans, which helps if you want to return to Original Medicare.
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