Quick answer: If your Medicare Advantage plan sends you a non-renewal notice this fall, your coverage continues through December 31 — you are not losing coverage today. You then have three paths: pick a new Medicare Advantage plan during Annual Enrollment (October 15 – December 7), use the special enrollment window that runs through the end of February, or return to Original Medicare — where a plan discontinuation gives you a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap plans with no health questions, generally from 60 days before your coverage ends until 63 days after. The one thing not to do is nothing: if you take no action, you’ll be moved to Original Medicare on January 1 without drug coverage.

Every fall, some Medicare Advantage plans decide not to renew their contract for the following year — either leaving a county entirely or discontinuing a specific plan. Insurance industry reporting indicates several national carriers are reducing their Medicare Advantage footprints again for 2027, which means some Californians will receive a non-renewal notice this October. If that’s you (or a parent), here is exactly what the notice means, what your rights are, and the deadlines that matter.

First: what a non-renewal notice actually means

If your plan is not continuing next year, the plan is required to notify you in writing — these notices typically arrive by early October, before Annual Enrollment begins on October 15.

Three things to understand right away:

Your coverage is not ending immediately. Your current plan, network, and drug coverage continue through December 31 of this year. Keep using your plan normally.

This is not about you. A non-renewal is a business decision about a plan or a county. It is not based on your health, your claims, or anything you did.

You have more options than usual — but only for a limited time. A plan discontinuation opens doors that are normally closed, including the right to buy certain Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies without medical underwriting. Those windows have hard deadlines.

Your three options

Option 1: Choose a new Medicare Advantage plan

During the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7), you can compare and enroll in any Medicare Advantage plan offered in your county, with coverage starting January 1. If your plan was discontinued, you also get extra time: a special enrollment period that runs through the last day of February. That said, enrolling by December 7 is the cleaner path — it means no gap in the plan features you rely on come January 1.

When comparing replacement plans, check two things against next year’s information, not this year’s: that your doctors and hospital are in the new plan’s network for the coming year, and that your prescriptions are on the new plan’s drug list. Networks and formularies change every year.

Option 2: Return to Original Medicare and add a Medigap plan — with no health questions

This is the option many people don’t realize they have. When a Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare or stops serving your area, federal law gives you a guaranteed-issue right: the right to buy certain Medigap plans with no medical underwriting — the insurer cannot deny you, exclude pre-existing conditions, or charge you more based on your health.

Key details:

For a deeper look at how this move works, see our guide to switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap in California. One important distinction: this guaranteed-issue right comes from the plan discontinuation — it is different from the California Birthday Rule, which only helps people who already have a Medigap policy. If you want the full map of when a Medigap change is possible, our guide to when you can change a Medigap plan in California lays out every window side by side.

Option 3: Return to Original Medicare alone

You can simply let the plan end and be covered by Original Medicare (Parts A and B) starting January 1. If you choose this, strongly consider adding a standalone Part D drug plan by December 31 — going without creditable drug coverage for 63 days or more triggers a permanent late enrollment penalty.

What happens if you do nothing

If you take no action by December 31, you’ll be automatically returned to Original Medicare on January 1 — with no Medicare Advantage extras, no out-of-pocket maximum, and no drug coverage. For most people this is the worst of the available outcomes, not because Original Medicare is bad, but because it happens by default rather than by choice, and the drug-coverage gap can be costly. Open the notice, mark the deadlines, and make an active decision.

A note for Santa Barbara County and the Central Coast

Plan availability differs county by county in California — the plans offered in Santa Barbara County are not the same lineup as Los Angeles or Ventura, and the local provider systems your plan must work with (such as Sansum Clinic and Cottage Health in the Santa Barbara area) make network checks especially important when a plan leaves the market. If you live on the Central Coast and receive a non-renewal notice this fall, our Santa Barbara County Medicare page covers the local landscape, and a licensed local broker can walk you through every replacement option available in your ZIP code at no cost to you — brokers are paid by the insurance carriers.

Where to get help

If a non-renewal notice arrives during Annual Enrollment, our Annual Enrollment Period guide for Southern California covers how the October 15 – December 7 window works, and our Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage comparison walks through the trade-offs between the two paths.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Medicare Advantage plan is being discontinued for 2027?
Your plan must notify you in writing, typically by early October. If you’re unsure, call your plan directly or check next year’s plan availability for your ZIP code at Medicare.gov starting in October.
Do I lose coverage as soon as I get a non-renewal notice?
No. Your current coverage continues through December 31. The notice is about next year.
Can I really get a Medigap plan without health questions if my plan is discontinued?
Yes — a plan leaving Medicare or your service area is a federal guaranteed-issue event. You can buy certain Medigap plans with no medical underwriting, generally from 60 days before your coverage ends until 63 days after. Miss that window and insurers in most situations can underwrite based on your health history.
What are the exact deadlines?
Annual Enrollment: October 15 – December 7 (new coverage starts January 1). Special enrollment for discontinued plans: through the last day of February. Medigap guaranteed-issue window: generally 60 days before to 63 days after your coverage ends. To avoid any gap, aim to have your replacement chosen by early December.
Does the California Birthday Rule help me here?
No — the Birthday Rule is an annual switching window for people who already have Medigap. Your protection in a plan discontinuation is the guaranteed-issue right described above, which is available even if you’ve been in Medicare Advantage for years.
What happens to my Part D drug coverage?
If your discontinued plan included drug coverage, that ends December 31 too. Choose a new Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage or add a standalone Part D plan — don’t leave a gap of 63+ days, which triggers a permanent penalty.

Sources & official references

This is a non-government resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare.gov or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — in California, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) — to get information on all of your options. Matt Medicares Insurance is an independent insurance brokerage and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or any government agency. Educational information only, not individualized advice. Last reviewed: August 2026. Figures and plan availability can change annually — confirm current details at Medicare.gov.