Medicare Advantage Plan Canceled for 2026? Get Your Complete Action Plan

You opened your mailbox and found a letter you weren’t expecting. Your insurance company is no longer offering your plan. Your find your Medicare Advantage plan canceled. The plan you relied on won’t be available any more starting January 1, 2026.

If this happened to you, you’re not alone. Hundreds of thousands of people are getting these letters right now. Big insurance companies like Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana are dropping many of their Medicare Advantage plans for 2026.

Don’t Panic. You have options. And you have time to make a good choice.

We spoke with Dalia Cabrera, founder of Perseverance Patient Advocacy LLC and an Umbra Patient Advocate with nearly 20 years of Medicare experience, to break down exactly what you need to know and do. Based on her expertise, we’ll help you understand the situation and what to do to make sure you’re covered.

Why is this Happening?

Healthcare costs are going up fast. Insurance companies say they’re losing money on some plans. So, they’re stopping those plans and focusing on others.

It’s frustrating. But the important thing now is understanding what happens next and what you need to do.

What That Letter Actually Means

Your letter probably says your plan “will not be available” or “is being discontinued” for 2026. The reality is you find your Medicare Advantage plan canceled. Here’s what that really means:

You will NOT be left without coverage. If you do nothing at all, you’ll automatically go back to Original Medicare on January 1, 2026. You’ll have Part A and Part B again.

But here’s the catch: If you do nothing, you might not have prescription drug coverage (Part D) anymore. And you won’t have any extra benefits your Medicare Advantage plan may have included (like dental or vision coverage).

If you want to keep benefits like those, you need to make an active choice during Open Enrollment.

Your Three Options

You have three main paths forward. Let’s look at each one.

Option 1: Choose a Different Medicare Advantage Plan

You can pick another Medicare Advantage plan in your area. Most people still have many plan options.

This option might be right for you if:

• You like having dental, vision, and hearing benefits included
• You prefer lower monthly premiums, sometimes $0 premium or cost sharing (co-pays)
• Your doctors and hospitals are in the new plan’s network so you won’t bump into limits on who you can see or where you can go
• The new plan covers your medications
• You’re comfortable with requesting approval (called “prior authorization”) before some treatments, keeping in mind you may not always get it

What to watch out for:

• Make sure your doctors are in the new plan’s network
• Check that your medications are covered; make sure you know what “covered” means because you could have to get prior authorization before the plan will pay for your drugs (and they may not always approve that request) 
• Look at the plan’s Star Rating, a 5-point rating system organized by Medicare where the best plans earn 5 stars (The plan’s Star Rating shows how happy other people are with the plan)

“The cons of enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan are the limitations in the provider’s network,” explains Dalia Cabrera, Umbra Patient Advocate and Medicare expert. “The enrollee can only use the providers contracted by the private insurer, not the nationwide providers contracted by Medicare.”

Option 2: Switch to Original Medicare Plus a Medigap Plan

You can go to Original Medicare and buy an extra Medigap policy. Medigap helps pay the 20% coinsurance for Medicare-covered services.

This option might be right for you if:

• You want to see any doctor who takes Medicare (no network restrictions)
• You have complex health needs or see specialists often
• You travel a lot and want coverage anywhere in the U.S.
• You can afford higher monthly premiums or cost sharing

Important timing note: Because your plan is ending, you have special “guaranteed issue rights.” This means Medigap companies MUST sell you a policy. They can’t say no because of your health. But this protection only lasts for a limited time. Don’t wait.

What to watch out for:

• Medigap policies can have high monthly premiums
• You’ll need to add a separate Part D plan for prescription coverage
• The combination can cost more each month than Medicare Advantage, but you might get more coverage for things you need

Option 3: Original Medicare Plus a Part D Plan (Without Medigap)

You can go to Original Medicare and just add a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan. You skip the Medigap policy.

This might be right for you if:

• You’re generally healthy and don’t go to the doctor often
• You want flexibility to see any Medicare doctor
• You want to keep monthly costs lower 

What to watch out for:

• Original Medicare has no limit on what you pay out of pocket each year. If you get very sick, your costs could be high. You pay 20% of every doctor visit and medical service
• You will pay a monthly premium while some Medicare Advantage plans offer low or no premiums
• Medicare Parts A and B don’t cover things like dental or vision, which some Medicare Advantage plans do
• You want to avoid the Part D Late Enrollment Period, which may apply if you don’t have a creditable prescription drug coverage during 63 consecutive days

Your Action Plan: What to Do Now

Here’s exactly what you need to do, step by step:

Step 1: Find your termination letter and read it carefully. Note the date your current plan ends.

Step 2: Make a list of:

• All the medications you take (with the dosages, formulation, and brand, if any)
• All your doctors’ names
• Any medical procedures you know or think you’ll need in 2026

Step 3: Think about what matters most to you:

• Do you need to keep seeing specific doctors?
• Do you want dental or vision benefits?
• How much can you afford to pay each month?
• Do you travel often?
• Do you care about having flexibility in what services you get and where you get them?

Step 4: Compare your options using the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov.

Pro tip: If you create an account or log in, the tool will automatically load your current medications if you’ve had Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. To create an account, you just need your Medicare ID, name, and date of birth. This saves you time entering everything manually.

Enter your medications to see which plans cover them and how much they’ll cost.

Step 5: Look at Star Ratings. Plans with 4 or 5 stars are considered the best quality plans and usually have happier members.

Step 6: If you’re thinking about Medigap, call companies NOW to get quotes. Remember, they have to sell you a policy because your plan is ending, but your rights won’t last forever.

Step 7: Make your choice and enroll. Don’t wait until the end of Open Enrollment (December 7). Things can go wrong at the last minute.

Important Deadlines

• October 15 to December 7: This is the Annual Enrollment Period. You MUST make your choice during these dates. During this period all Medicare beneficiaries are eligible to make new enrollments, disenrollments or changes to their current plans.
• January 1 to March 31, 2026: This is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. This is only for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. It’s one more chance to switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or go to Original Medicare. But it’s better not to wait.

What If You Miss the Deadline?

If you don’t enroll in a new plan by December 7, you’ll automatically go back to Original Medicare on January 1. You won’t have drug coverage unless you add a Part D plan.

Missing the deadline means you might face gaps in coverage. You might also face a penalty for enrolling in Part D late. Don’t let this happen.

A Note About Those “New Plan” Letters

Some insurance companies are sending two types of letters. One says your plan is ending. Another might offer you a “replacement plan” to switch to automatically.

Be careful. Just because the company offers you a specific replacement plan doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for you. They’re choosing what works for them, not necessarily what works for you.

Compare that replacement plan against all your other options. Make sure it truly fits your needs.

This Is Confusing—And That’s Okay

Let’s be honest: Medicare is complicated. Having your plan canceled makes it even more stressful. You might feel overwhelmed. That’s completely normal.

This is exactly why having expert help matters.

You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone

Umbra Health Advocacy has patient advocates with deep Medicare expertise—advocates like Dalia Cabrera—who can help you navigate this situation.

Here’s what an advocate can do for you:

• Review your termination letter and explain what it means
• Help you compare all available plans in your area
• Check if your doctors are in network for different plans
• Walk you through using the Plan Finder tool and calculate real costs
• Explain the differences between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare
• Help you understand Medigap options and guaranteed issue rights
• Walk you through the enrollment process step by step

If you already have Original Medicare Part B, this support may be covered by your insurance. Contact us at 857-766-8236 or tell us about your situation to see if you qualify.

If you don’t have Original Medicare (or any Medicare yet), you can privately hire an advocate to help. We offer Medicare Navigation packages starting at $300. An expert advocate will review your situation, guide you through the options, and answer any questions you have so you can select the right plan for you. If you need more extensive help, you can always sign up for more time.

Don’t make this important decision alone. Get help from a Medicare expert.