Medicare Advantage

If you got a Medicare Advantage non-renewal letter in Lincoln, here is your move

For 2027, Lincoln is looking at 41 Medicare Advantage plans: 18 new, 18 gone since 2026, and 11 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 4 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Lancaster County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

LINCOLN, Neb. — This fall, some Medicare Advantage members in Lincoln are opening a letter from their insurer that says the plan they have today will not be offered in 2027. In Lancaster County, which is where Lincoln sits, 18 Medicare Advantage plans in the 2026 lineup are not on CMS's 2027 list, according to the agency's Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files. If one of those plans is yours, you have time, choices and a special window to use — but the calendar matters.

How do I know if my Medicare Advantage plan is leaving Lincoln for 2027?

Your insurer must send you a written non-renewal notice, usually arriving in late September or early October 2026. The letter will say your plan will not be offered in 2027, give the exact date your coverage ends (December 31, 2026), and explain your options. It is separate from the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) that renewing plans send, so if you received a termination letter, keep it — you will want the plan name and contract number when you shop.

The non-renewal letter is the official signal. You should not rely on word of mouth, a mailer from another company, or a phone call. If you are unsure what you got, call the number on your member ID card or 1-800-MEDICARE.

Which Medicare Advantage plans are not returning in Lancaster County for 2027?

Eighteen plans offered in Lancaster County in 2026 are not in CMS's 2027 file for the county. Listed in alphabetical order by carrier, they are:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska MA Access (PPO) — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska MA Core (HMO) — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska MA Secure (PPO) — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
• Wellcare Assist Open (PPO) — Centene (WellCare)
• Wellcare Dual Access Sync Open (PPO D-SNP) — Centene (WellCare)
• Wellcare Patriot Giveback Open (PPO) — Centene (WellCare)
• Wellcare Simple Open (PPO) — Centene (WellCare)
• Great Plains Medicare Advantage (HMO I-SNP) — Great Plains Medicare Advantage
• Great Plains Medicare Advantage Gold (HMO I-SNP) — Great Plains Medicare Advantage
• Humana Full Access H5216-411 (PPO) — Humana
• Medica Advantage Preferred (PPO) — Medica
• Medica Advantage Select (PPO) — Medica
• Medica Advantage Solution H8889-009 (PPO) — Medica
• Medica Advantage Value (PPO) — Medica
• Molina Medicare Complete Care (HMO D-SNP) — Molina Healthcare of Illinois
• UHC Dual Complete NE-S001 (HMO-POS D-SNP) — UnitedHealthcare
• UHC Dual Complete NE-S003 (HMO-POS D-SNP) — UnitedHealthcare
• UHC Dual Complete NE-V001 (HMO-POS D-SNP) — UnitedHealthcare

If your plan is not on this list, it is expected to be offered again in 2027. The ANOC your insurer mails will spell out what is changing — review it like you would a new policy. For 2027, Lancaster County also has 18 new plans and 4 renamed plans, and the full 2027 lineup is 41 plans from 9 carriers; the table below lists every plan.

What happens on January 1, 2027 if I do nothing about a non-renewed plan?

On January 1, 2027, you will be covered by Original Medicare — Part A (hospital) and Part B (doctor and outpatient). You will not be moved to a different Medicare Advantage plan automatically, and if your old plan included drug coverage, that coverage ends with it. That is important: without a stand-alone Part D plan or other creditable drug coverage, you can face a late-enrollment penalty later and have no help paying for prescriptions in the meantime.

Original Medicare has no yearly out-of-pocket maximum and does not include drug coverage. Many people pair it with a stand-alone Part D plan and, if they qualify, a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy. Others choose a different Medicare Advantage plan. The right answer depends on your doctors, your medications and your budget.

What are my choices and how long is the Special Enrollment Period?

You have three main ways to use the calendar:

1. The Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 – December 7, 2026. Any change you make here takes effect January 1, 2027. This is the usual window and the easiest time to compare plans on Medicare's Plan Finder. 2. A Special Enrollment Period for plan non-renewal. Members of a terminated Advantage plan can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or join a stand-alone Part D plan from December 8, 2026 through the end of February 2027. If you make a change in January or February, coverage starts the first of the month after you enroll. 3. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 – March 31, 2027, which lets anyone already in a Medicare Advantage plan make one switch (to another Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare with a Part D plan).

If you decide to go to Original Medicare and want a Medigap policy, losing coverage because your Advantage plan was terminated triggers a federal guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap plans without medical underwriting, within set time limits. Nebraska has its own rules on top of the federal floor; the Nebraska Department of Insurance can confirm which plans and timelines apply to you.

What should I check before I pick a replacement plan in Lincoln?

Start with three lists: your doctors and hospitals, your prescriptions (with doses), and your pharmacy. Then use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to see which 2027 plans in Lancaster County cover them and at what cost. Costs and networks change every year, so even a plan you know by name is worth re-checking.

A few 2027 program facts worth knowing while you compare: the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026), the Part D maximum deductible is $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026), and the coverage gap is gone — Part D now has three phases. CMS typically announces the 2027 Part B premium, Part B deductible and IRMAA income brackets in the fall; those figures were not published as of September 2026.