Medicare Advantage Plan Ending in 2027? What Kissimmee and Osceola County Members Can Do
Updated: 2 hours ago
You opened a letter saying your Medicare Advantage plan won't be offered in 2027. That can feel unsettling, especially if you've been happy with your doctors and your drugs.
First, take a breath: you won't lose Medicare. Your plan is ending, not your Medicare.
Below, I'll explain what the letter means, the deadlines that matter and the choices you have, in order. This guide is for members in Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Poinciana, Celebration and across Osceola County.
What happens if my Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued?
You still have Medicare. Your current plan keeps covering you through December 31, 2026. If you don't choose another plan, you'll have Original Medicare starting January 1, 2027.
That last part is important. Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not include drug coverage. If your Medicare Advantage plan covered your prescriptions, you may have no drug coverage on January 1 unless you join another plan that includes it or a separate Part D drug plan.
So the letter is not an emergency, but it is a to-do. You'll want to make a choice before the year ends.
What the non-renewal letter is and why to keep it
Plans that are leaving an area must tell their members in writing. That letter is often called a plan non-renewal notice.
Keep it somewhere safe, along with the envelope if it shows a date. The letter can serve as proof that your plan is ending. You may need it if you apply for a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy using a guaranteed-issue right, which I explain below.
If you're helping a parent, take a photo of the letter on your phone, too. Then you'll have it even if the paper gets misplaced.
How long do I have to pick a new plan?
You can choose during open enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Because your plan is not renewing, you also get a special enrollment period from December 8, 2026, to February 28, 2027.
Here's what that looks like on a calendar. Please confirm the dates for your situation on Medicare.gov or with 1-800-MEDICARE, since start dates depend on when the new plan gets your request.
If you choose in... | Coverage usually starts... |
Oct 15 to Dec 7, 2026 (open enrollment) | Jan 1, 2027 |
Dec 8 to Dec 31, 2026 (special enrollment period) | Jan 1, 2027 |
January 2027 (special enrollment period) | Feb 1, 2027 |
February 2027 (special enrollment period, ends Feb 28) | Mar 1, 2027 |
Why choosing by Dec 7 is simpler
If you choose by December 7, your new coverage starts January 1, right when your old plan ends. There's no gap to worry about.
If you wait until January or February, you'd have Original Medicare in the meantime, and you may have no drug coverage for those weeks. For anyone who takes medicine every day, that gap matters.
If you'd like help sorting this out, book a no-cost review or call (312) 973-3754. Bring the letter. There's no cost to you for the review and no obligation to enroll.
Your three main paths
Your choices usually come down to one of three paths. Each one works differently, and the right fit depends on your health, your doctors, your drugs and your budget. None of them is right for everyone.
Path 1: Another Medicare Advantage plan in Osceola County
You can join a different Medicare Advantage plan that's offered where you live. Many include drug coverage.
Before you pick one, check that your doctors are in its network, your drugs are on its list and your pharmacy works with it. Medicare.gov's Open Enrollment page and Medicare Plan Finder can help you compare.
Path 2: Original Medicare plus a Part D drug plan
You can stay with Original Medicare, which is what you'd have by default, and add a stand-alone Part D drug plan.
With Original Medicare, you can see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. You'd also pay your share of costs, like the Part B deductible and coinsurance, without a yearly cap.
Path 3: Original Medicare plus a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plus Part D
You can pair Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy, which helps pay some of the costs Original Medicare doesn't. Medigap policies don't include drug coverage, so you'd add a Part D plan, too.
Whether you can get the Medigap policy you want depends on timing and your rights. That's the next section.
Can I switch to a Medicare Supplement without health questions?
Often, yes, if your plan is leaving and you apply for certain Medigap plans within the guaranteed-issue window. That window is time-limited, so it's worth knowing the dates.
According to Medicare.gov, when your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving your area, you may have a federal right to buy certain Medigap policies. To use it, Medicare.gov says you must apply no earlier than 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends and no later than 63 days after it ends.
A few things to know about that right:
It applies if you switch to Original Medicare, not if you join another Medicare Advantage plan.
It covers certain standardized plan letters. Medicare.gov lists Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K and L. Plans C and F are only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before 2020.
Your Medigap coverage can't start until your Medicare Advantage coverage ends.
Because everyone's situation is a little different, check your own rights on Medicare.gov's page "When can I buy a Medigap policy?" or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Florida SHINE can also help at 1-800-963-5337.
What the trial right is
The trial right is a one-time chance for people who are new to Medicare Advantage. If it applies to you, you may be able to leave Medicare Advantage within your first 12 months and buy a Medigap policy without health questions.
Medicare.gov describes two versions:
You joined a Medicare Advantage plan when you were first eligible for Medicare at 65, and you want to switch to Original Medicare within the first year.
You dropped a Medigap policy to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time, and you're still within 12 months of joining. In that case, you may be able to get your old Medigap policy back if the same company still sells it.
New to Medicare? See my Medicare checklist for turning 65.
Florida's own rules
Florida has its own Medigap rules on top of the federal ones. They're set out in section 627.6741 of the Florida Statutes and explained by the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS).
Under Florida law, you have a 6-month Medigap open enrollment period that starts the first month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During that window, insurers can't turn you down or charge you more because of your health.
Florida also gives a 2-month window after employer-based group health coverage ends, with the same protections. And Florida DFS says Medigap policies in Florida are sold on an "issue age" basis, meaning your premium doesn't go up just because you get older. It can still change for other reasons.
Does Florida have a Medigap birthday rule?
No. Florida's Medigap law, section 627.6741 of the Florida Statutes, lists the state's guaranteed-issue windows, and a yearly "birthday" window is not one of them. Outside those windows and your federal rights, Medigap insurers in Florida can ask health questions.
You may see websites that say Florida has a birthday rule. The Florida statute and the Florida DFS overview don't include one, so that's what we go by here.
What this means for you: if your plan is ending, your guaranteed-issue window may be an important chance to get a Medigap policy without health questions. Missing it could mean answering health questions later.
What if I do nothing?
If you do nothing, you'll have Original Medicare on January 1, 2027. You may not have drug coverage, and you still have the special enrollment period to act through February 28, 2027.
Here's why doing nothing can be risky. Going without drug coverage can leave you paying full price at the pharmacy for those weeks.
Also, Medicare.gov explains that if you go 63 days or more in a row without Part D or other creditable drug coverage after you're first eligible, you may owe a Part D late enrollment penalty. That penalty can be added to your premium for as long as you have Medicare drug coverage.
The simpler path is to make your choice by December 7. If you can't, act as early in the special enrollment period as you can.
What to bring to a review
Bring the letter and a few basics, and we can go through your options together. Here's the checklist:
The non-renewal letter from your plan
Your red, white and blue Medicare card
Your current plan member card
A list of your prescriptions with doses
Your doctors and specialists, and the hospital you'd use
Your pharmacy (and whether you use mail order)
We can meet in person in Kissimmee, by phone or by video. Adult children are welcome to join.
There's no cost to you for the review and no obligation to enroll. You can learn more about what a no-cost Medicare review covers or about Medicare options in Kissimmee.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if my Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued?
You keep Medicare. Your plan covers you through December 31, 2026. If you don't choose another plan, you'll have Original Medicare starting January 1, 2027. Original Medicare doesn't include drug coverage, so you may need to join a plan that does, or add a Part D plan.
How long do I have to pick a new plan if my Medicare Advantage plan is not renewing?
You can choose during open enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, and through a special enrollment period that runs from December 8, 2026, to February 28, 2027. Choosing by December 7 avoids a gap, because your new coverage starts January 1.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to a Medicare Supplement without health questions?
Often yes, if your plan is leaving and you apply for certain Medigap plans within the guaranteed-issue window. Medicare.gov says to apply no earlier than 60 days before your coverage ends and no later than 63 days after. Keep your letter, and check your situation on Medicare.gov.
Does Florida have a Medigap birthday rule?
No. Florida's Medigap law (section 627.6741, Florida Statutes) doesn't include a yearly birthday window. Outside special windows, such as your first 6 months with Part B or a guaranteed-issue right, Medigap insurers in Florida can ask health questions.
What is the Medicare Advantage trial right?
If you joined Medicare Advantage for the first time, you may have 12 months to return to Original Medicare and buy a Medigap policy without health questions. It can apply if you joined when first eligible at 65, or if you dropped a Medigap policy to try Medicare Advantage.
What if I do nothing after getting a non-renewal letter?
You'll be moved to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027, but you may not have drug coverage. Going without drug coverage can lead to a Part D late enrollment penalty later. It's worth acting before December 7, and you can still act through February 28.
Got a non-renewal letter? Let's look at it together
Bring your letter to a no-cost review: https://www.ltkinsurance.com/book, or call (312) 973-3754. In person in Kissimmee, by phone or by video. There's no cost to you for the review and no obligation to enroll.
Ryan Goulding, licensed in Florida (FL License #G304148 · NPN 17090608)
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 10 organizations which offer 30 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
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