The Great Medicare Advantage Contraction of 2026: What It Means if Your Plan Was Canceled (and How I Can Help)

If you just got a letter that your Medicare Advantage plan won’t be offered for 2026, you’re not alone. Several insurers trimmed plan lineups or left selected counties for 2026 after a tough year of higher medical costs and regulatory changes.

Why the shake-up? In short: tighter margins and new rules. 2025 brought rate and policy changes from CMS, plus benefit redesign on the Part D side, which pushed some carriers to reduce offerings or exit certain areas.

Even with these plan exits, there are still plenty of viable alternatives. Major carriers are staying in the market while adjusting footprints, and availability varies by county. The key is comparing what’s actually offered where you live.

If your plan is ending, here’s what to do next:

1. Don’t panic. Plan non-renewals create a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that lets you switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare without losing coverage. Timing depends on when your plan ends and when you got your notice.

2. Gather your priorities. Make a list of your doctors, hospitals, and medications. That way we can filter plans for network fit and drug costs first.

3. Contact me to schedule an appointment at 615-579-7592 or by email at joel@wellnessinsurance.info.

4. We'll compare real options in your ZIP code. Choices vary block by block. We’ll look at MA-PPO, MA-HMO, and stand-alone Part D with a Supplement (Medigap) if you prefer Original Medicare.

5. You can consider a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) if you’re switching back to Original Medicare. A plan termination can trigger guaranteed-issue rights for a Medigap policy in many cases. That means no health questions for certain time windows. We'll check your timing so you don’t miss it.

   
   

Why work with me (and why it's no cost)

I’m a local, independent Medicare agent in Middle Tennessee. My agency is paid by the insurance companies when you enroll, so there’s no fee for my help. My job is to compare plans across multiple carriers and match you to coverage that protects access to your doctors, prescriptions, and budget best.

Call or text 615-579-7592 or email joel@wellnessinsurance.info. We can meet in person, by phone, or on Zoom to make sure you still have the healthcare coverage you need for next year.