Short answer
A Plan Non-Renewal Notice means your Medicare Advantage, Medicare drug, or Medicare Cost Plan is leaving the Medicare program in the coming year. Your plan sends the notice in October. Start comparing coverage for the next plan year as soon as you receive it. You may use the Annual Enrollment Period to choose new coverage, and Medicare also lists a plan non-renewal enrollment opportunity from December 8 through the last day of February of the following year.
What the notice means
Medicare.gov says you get a Plan Non-Renewal Notice when your plan is leaving the Medicare program in the coming year. It is not a routine marketing piece and it does not mean that every Medicare plan is ending. It means you need to review new coverage for the next plan year because your current plan will not be available. Keep the notice with your plan documents and read it carefully for plan-specific instructions.
A plan non-renewal is different from a doctor leaving a network, a medication changing tiers, or a prior-authorization issue. Those changes can require action, but they do not automatically mean the plan itself is leaving Medicare. For help with those situations, see our FAQ about a plan dropping a doctor or drug and its downloadable plan-change checklist.
A plan non-renewal is different from a doctor leaving a network, a medication changing tiers, or a prior-authorization issue. Those changes can require action, but they do not automatically mean the plan itself is leaving Medicare. For help with those situations, see our FAQ about a plan dropping a doctor or drug and its downloadable plan-change checklist.
What to do when you receive a non-renewal notice
Begin with a current list of your doctors, specialists, hospitals, prescriptions, medication doses, and preferred pharmacy. Then compare coverage for the next year using your actual providers and medications. Confirm that each plan serves your address, includes your clinicians and facilities, covers your drugs at the needed dosage, and has cost-sharing and an out-of-pocket maximum you understand.
Use the notice as a prompt to review your Annual Notice of Change, Evidence of Coverage, and any prescription-drug information you receive. Medicare.gov's Plan Compare tool can help you review Medicare Advantage and Part D options. Our Annual Enrollment Period guide explains the standard fall review process and the decisions you can make during that window.
Use the notice as a prompt to review your Annual Notice of Change, Evidence of Coverage, and any prescription-drug information you receive. Medicare.gov's Plan Compare tool can help you review Medicare Advantage and Part D options. Our Annual Enrollment Period guide explains the standard fall review process and the decisions you can make during that window.
Your enrollment timing after a plan non-renewal
The Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7. Because Medicare says the non-renewal notice arrives in October, acting during that period can help you choose coverage before the next plan year starts. Medicare also lists a special opportunity for a Medicare Advantage, Medicare drug, or Medicare Cost Plan contract that is not renewed: you can switch between December 8 and the last day of February of the following year.
If your Medicare Advantage plan is not renewed and you do not join another Medicare Advantage plan before your old plan ends, Medicare says you will be enrolled in Original Medicare. If you need prescription drug coverage after returning to Original Medicare, review Part D options promptly. The exact choice depends on your coverage and location, so use your written notice and confirm questions with the plan or 1-800-MEDICARE. Our Special Enrollment Period guide explains how Medicare's additional change opportunities work.
If your Medicare Advantage plan is not renewed and you do not join another Medicare Advantage plan before your old plan ends, Medicare says you will be enrolled in Original Medicare. If you need prescription drug coverage after returning to Original Medicare, review Part D options promptly. The exact choice depends on your coverage and location, so use your written notice and confirm questions with the plan or 1-800-MEDICARE. Our Special Enrollment Period guide explains how Medicare's additional change opportunities work.
Consider Medicare Supplement rights carefully
A return to Original Medicare after a plan non-renewal can lead people to ask about a Medicare Supplement, also called Medigap. Certain plan exits can create protected Medigap rights, but the exact protections, policy choices, and application timing depend on the facts. Do not assume that choosing Original Medicare in the fall automatically gives you a right to buy a Medigap policy without medical underwriting.
Review our Florida Medigap guaranteed-issue-rights FAQ before applying. It explains why the notice, coverage end date, and the date you apply can matter. You can also compare the broader structure of the two coverage paths in our Original Medicare versus Medicare Advantage guide.
Review our Florida Medigap guaranteed-issue-rights FAQ before applying. It explains why the notice, coverage end date, and the date you apply can matter. You can also compare the broader structure of the two coverage paths in our Original Medicare versus Medicare Advantage guide.
Questions to ask before choosing your next plan
Ask whether your doctors, specialists, and hospital are in network for the next plan year. Confirm your prescription coverage with the exact drug name, dosage, and pharmacy. Review deductibles, copays, coinsurance, the maximum out-of-pocket amount for medical services, and whether prior authorization or referrals may apply. If you are comparing a stand-alone Part D plan, read our Medicare Part D guide for the plan structure and formulary basics.
It is also useful to ask what happens to an upcoming procedure or ongoing treatment. Your clinician is the right source for treatment recommendations. The plan can explain network, authorization, and benefit rules. If you receive conflicting answers, ask for the information in writing and keep a call log with names, dates, and reference numbers.
It is also useful to ask what happens to an upcoming procedure or ongoing treatment. Your clinician is the right source for treatment recommendations. The plan can explain network, authorization, and benefit rules. If you receive conflicting answers, ask for the information in writing and keep a call log with names, dates, and reference numbers.
When to get help
You can call 1-800-MEDICARE for general enrollment assistance and plan information. Medicare.gov also identifies the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP, as a source of free, personalized local counseling. If you want help comparing plan features and organizing your questions, you can schedule a free Medicare consultation with a licensed specialist.
Bring your notice, provider list, medication list, and preferred pharmacy to the conversation. The goal is to compare the plan details that affect you, not to choose a plan based only on a general benefit headline or a prior year's coverage.
Bring your notice, provider list, medication list, and preferred pharmacy to the conversation. The goal is to compare the plan details that affect you, not to choose a plan based only on a general benefit headline or a prior year's coverage.
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