Your plan is terminating or leaving your service area
Your Medicare Advantage plan must be ending coverage in your county or ZIP code — not simply changing benefits, premiums, or networks. You must have been enrolled in the plan when it terminates.
Medicare Advantage Plan Ending
Your Medicare Advantage Plan Is Not Being Renewed for 2027
If your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving your area or ending coverage for 2027, federal law may give you the right to switch to Original Medicare and buy a Medicare Supplement plan without medical underwriting — regardless of your health history. Eligibility and deadlines depend on your specific situation.
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Medicare Advantage plan-exit and guaranteed-issue rights guidance
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The short answer
When a Medicare Advantage plan terminates or leaves your service area, affected members may qualify for a federal guaranteed-issue right to purchase a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan. This right is triggered by the plan exit — not by your choice to leave. It applies even if you have pre-existing conditions.
The window to act is limited. For plan terminations effective January 1, 2027, the application window typically begins 60 days before your coverage ends and extends no more than 63 days after coverage ends. Missing this window generally means returning to standard underwriting rules.
This page explains who qualifies, which Medigap plans are available under this right, what the deadlines are, and how to review your options with an independent broker.
Who may qualify for guaranteed-issue rights
Federal law establishes specific circumstances that trigger guaranteed-issue rights for Medigap. For a Medicare Advantage plan exit, the qualifying conditions are:
You are enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B
Guaranteed-issue rights for Medigap require active enrollment in both Medicare Part A and Part B. If you are not yet enrolled in Part B, this right does not apply until you are.
You are within the application window
The window begins 60 days before your coverage ends and extends no more than 63 days after coverage ends. Applications submitted outside this window are not protected by this guaranteed-issue right.
You are not in your original Medigap Open Enrollment Period
If you are still within your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (which begins when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B), you already have open-enrollment guaranteed-issue rights. The plan-exit right is a separate protection for people whose OEP has passed.
What does not automatically qualify
Not every Medicare Advantage situation triggers Medigap guaranteed-issue rights. The following situations do not automatically qualify:
Premium or benefit changes
If your plan is continuing but raising premiums, reducing benefits, or changing cost-sharing, that is not a plan termination. You may receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), but an ANOC alone does not establish a Medigap guaranteed-issue right.
Network changes
If your plan is continuing but your preferred doctor or hospital is leaving the network, that is a network change — not a plan termination. Network changes do not trigger Medigap guaranteed-issue rights.
Plan renaming or crosswalking
If your plan is being renamed, merged with another plan, or crosswalked to a successor plan in the same service area, you may not have a plan-exit guaranteed-issue right. Review the specific notice you received.
Voluntary disenrollment
Choosing to leave your Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP, October 15 – December 7) without a qualifying plan-exit event does not trigger Medigap guaranteed-issue rights. AEP alone does not establish this protection.
Trial rights are a separate category
If you joined Medicare Advantage for the first time and want to return to Original Medicare within 12 months, that is a trial right — a separate and distinct protection from the plan-exit guaranteed-issue right. The plans available and the window may differ.
Dates, documents, and what to do now
For plans terminating January 1, 2027: the application window for Medigap guaranteed-issue rights typically opens 60 days before January 1, 2027 — around November 1, 2026 — and closes no more than 63 days after January 1, 2027, around March 5, 2027. Applying before your coverage ends is strongly preferred; do not wait until after coverage ends if you can avoid it.
Documents to gather: your plan termination notice (the official letter from your plan stating it is ending coverage in your area), your Medicare card showing Part A and Part B effective dates, and any ANOC or other correspondence from your plan. Do not cancel existing coverage before your Medigap application is accepted and you have a confirmed effective date.
Part D (prescription drug coverage): your Medicare Advantage plan likely included drug coverage. When you return to Original Medicare, you will need a standalone Part D plan. The Part D Special Enrollment Period triggered by a plan exit runs concurrently with the Medigap window. Evaluate Part D options separately — do not assume your Medigap plan covers prescriptions.
Collect notices and sensitive documents through the secure intake form. Do not send plan termination notices, Medicare card numbers, or personal health information through ordinary email or text.
Which Medigap plans are available under this right
Under the federal plan-exit guaranteed-issue right, you are entitled to purchase Medicare Supplement Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, Plan F, Plan G, Plan K, or Plan L from any insurer that sells Medigap plans in your state. The insurer cannot deny coverage or charge more based on your health history.
Important MACRA distinction: Plans C and F (which cover the Part B deductible) are only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If your Medicare Part A effective date is January 1, 2020 or later, you are not eligible for Plan C or Plan F regardless of your guaranteed-issue right. Plan D and Plan G are the closest equivalents available to newer Medicare enrollees.
Plan N is not universally guaranteed under the federal plan-exit right. Whether Plan N is available under guaranteed issue in your state depends on state law and carrier acceptance. An independent broker can confirm what is available in your specific situation.
The plans available under guaranteed issue are the same standardized plans available to anyone — the difference is that the insurer cannot use medical underwriting to decline your application or charge more. Premiums still vary by carrier, age, and location.
Is your Medicare Advantage plan ending?
Ask William whether you have a protected opportunity to move to Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement. Eligibility and deadlines depend on your situation.
Reviewing current Medigap premiums
If you are returning to Original Medicare after Medicare Advantage, comparing current Medigap premiums is an important step. Premiums vary significantly by carrier, plan letter, age, and ZIP code — even for plans with identical standardized benefits.
An independent broker can pull current rates from multiple carriers side by side. The premium you pay is the same whether you work with a broker or apply directly — there is no cost to use an independent broker. Use the interactive calculator at /medigap-plan-comparison to model three-year totals for Plan G, Plan N, and High-Deductible Plan G based on your own quotes.
Do not assume the lowest premium today is the best long-term choice. Carrier rate increase history is a relevant factor when selecting a plan you intend to keep for many years. An independent broker who works with multiple carriers can show you rate history alongside current premiums.
Part D prescription drug coverage — a separate decision
Medicare Supplement plans do not cover prescription drugs. If your Medicare Advantage plan included drug coverage (most do), you will need to enroll in a standalone Part D plan when you return to Original Medicare.
The Part D Special Enrollment Period triggered by a plan exit runs concurrently with the Medigap window. Evaluate Part D options based on your specific prescriptions, preferred pharmacy, and formulary — not just the monthly premium. Medicare's Plan Finder tool at medicare.gov is the authoritative source for comparing Part D plans in your area.
If you delay Part D enrollment without creditable drug coverage, you may face a permanent late-enrollment penalty. Do not assume your Medigap plan covers prescriptions — it does not.
Northeast Florida: what 2027 plan changes mean for local beneficiaries
Northeast Florida — including Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Flagler, Volusia, Nassau, and Putnam counties — has seen significant Medicare Advantage market activity heading into 2027. Humana has reduced its Medicare Advantage footprint nationally, and some beneficiaries in this region are receiving nonrenewal notices for plans they have held for years. If you are in Northeast Florida and your plan is ending, the same federal guaranteed-issue rules described above apply to you.
The key question for Northeast Florida beneficiaries is not just whether you have a GI right — it is whether you want to use it. A plan nonrenewal creates a window to move to Original Medicare plus a Medigap plan without underwriting. That window is time-limited: generally 60 days before your coverage ends and no more than 63 days after. If you miss it, you may need to pass medical underwriting to enroll in Medigap later.
Not every plan change in Northeast Florida triggers a guaranteed-issue right. A plan that changes its formulary, adjusts its cost-sharing, or modifies its supplemental benefits is not the same as a plan that is leaving your service area or being discontinued. If you received a notice that your plan is not being renewed — not just changed — that is the trigger. Review your Annual Notice of Change carefully and contact your broker if you are unsure whether your situation qualifies.
William Gray is licensed in Florida and works with beneficiaries throughout Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Palm Coast, Daytona Beach, and surrounding communities. If your Medicare Advantage plan is ending for 2027 and you want to understand your Medigap options, call or schedule a review before your deadline.
Talk with William about your options
William Gray is an independent Medicare broker licensed in Florida since 1998. He works with multiple carriers and is not captive to any single company. When you call (386) 871-3858, you speak directly with William — not a call center. He personally returns every call.
Frequently asked questions
Does my Medicare Advantage plan ending give me the right to buy any Medigap plan?
Under the federal plan-exit guaranteed-issue right, you may purchase Plan A, B, C, D, F, G, K, or L from any insurer selling Medigap in your state. Plans C and F are only available if your Medicare eligibility date is before January 1, 2020. Plan N is not universally guaranteed under this right — availability depends on state law and carrier acceptance.
How long do I have to apply for a Medigap plan after my Medicare Advantage plan ends?
The application window begins 60 days before your coverage ends and extends no more than 63 days after coverage ends. For a plan terminating January 1, 2027, the window typically opens around November 1, 2026 and closes around March 5, 2027. Applying before coverage ends is strongly preferred.
I received an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Does that give me guaranteed-issue rights?
An ANOC alone does not establish Medigap guaranteed-issue rights. An ANOC notifies you of benefit, premium, or network changes for a continuing plan. Guaranteed-issue rights are triggered by actual plan termination or service-area exit — not by changes to a continuing plan.
Can I keep my doctors if I switch to Original Medicare and a Medigap plan?
Medicare Supplement plans work with any provider who accepts Original Medicare — there are no network restrictions. The relevant question is whether your provider accepts Medicare assignment. Confirm with your specific provider's office before switching.
What happens to my prescription drug coverage when my Medicare Advantage plan ends?
Most Medicare Advantage plans include drug coverage. When you return to Original Medicare, you will need a standalone Part D plan. The Part D Special Enrollment Period triggered by a plan exit runs concurrently with the Medigap window. Evaluate Part D options separately — Medicare Supplement plans do not cover prescriptions.
Should I cancel my current Medicare Advantage plan before applying for a Medigap plan?
Do not cancel existing coverage before your Medigap application is accepted and you have a confirmed effective date. Coordinate the end of your current coverage with the start of your new plan to avoid a gap. An independent broker can help you sequence the transition.
My Medicare Advantage plan is ending in Northeast Florida. What are my options?
If your plan is being discontinued or leaving your service area, you likely have a guaranteed-issue right to enroll in certain Medicare Supplement plans without medical underwriting. The window is generally 60 days before your coverage ends and no more than 63 days after. Contact a licensed broker before your deadline to review your Medigap options. Not every plan change — such as a formulary update or benefit change — creates a GI right. The plan must be ending or leaving your area.
Ready to review your options?
William personally returns every call. Have your plan termination notice in front of you when you call — he can review what it says and confirm your GI window and plan options at no cost.
Northeast Florida: 2027 Medicare Advantage plan changes
Verify your exact plan notice. Plan availability changes vary by county, carrier, contract number, and plan benefit package (PBP). A carrier reducing its footprint in one county does not mean every plan in that county is affected. Your written nonrenewal or Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is the authoritative document — not general news coverage or this page.
Medicare Advantage plan availability in Northeast Florida changed for 2027. Beneficiaries in several counties received nonrenewal or plan-exit notices. Whether a specific notice creates a Medigap guaranteed-issue right depends on the type of notice, the carrier, the contract, and the beneficiary's individual Medicare history. Not every plan change automatically qualifies.
Duval County
Jacksonville
Largest Medicare Advantage market in Northeast Florida. Verify your specific carrier and plan notice.
County Medicare guideSt. Johns County
St. Augustine / Ponte Vedra
Rapidly growing Medicare population. Plan availability varies by ZIP code within the county.
County Medicare guideClay County
Orange Park / Fleming Island
Adjacent to Duval. Some plans available in Duval may not be available in Clay.
County Medicare guideFlagler County
Palm Coast / Flagler Beach
Smaller market. Carrier options may be more limited than in Duval or St. Johns.
County Medicare guideNassau County
Fernandina Beach / Yulee
Northern Florida border county. Verify plan availability — options differ from Duval.
County Medicare guideVolusia County
Daytona Beach / Ormond Beach
Large retiree population. Plan changes in Volusia may differ from Northeast Florida counties.
County Medicare guideWhat to do if you received a nonrenewal notice in Northeast Florida
- Locate your written notice — the nonrenewal letter or ANOC from your carrier. The notice controls your rights, not general news or this page.
- Identify the coverage termination date. Your Medigap application window is tied to that date, not the date you received the notice.
- Confirm your original Medicare effective date and whether you have prior Medigap history — both affect which plan letters are available to you.
- Contact William Gray to review the notice, confirm whether a guaranteed-issue right applies, and compare available Medicare Supplement options in your county.
- Do not cancel your current coverage until a replacement plan is accepted and you have a confirmed effective date.
Did your Medicare Advantage plan send a nonrenewal notice?
William Gray can review the notice, explain whether a Medigap guaranteed-issue right may apply, and compare available Medicare Supplement options. He serves Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Flagler, Nassau, and Volusia counties.
Independent broker · No cost · No obligation · Serving Northeast Florida