Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage in Buffalo: 21 plans exiting, 11 new for 2027

Erie County has 57 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 21 plans are not coming back, 11 are new, and 15 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 3 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for Buffalo, not which plan to pick.

Medicare AdvantageBuffalo, NY

Buffalo, N.Y. — If you have a Medicare Advantage plan in the Buffalo area, this fall's mail is worth opening carefully. According to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape files comparing 2026 and 2027, 21 plans offered in Erie County will not return next year, 11 new plans are joining the market, and 3 plans are being renamed. Another 15 plans are continuing but with at least one change on file — a premium, a deductible, a plan type or a name.

That's a lot of movement in one county, and it lands right before the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7), when you can switch, drop or join a Medicare Advantage plan for 2027.

What's changing in Erie County for 2027

Buffalo is in Erie County, where Medicare Advantage plan availability is set. Based on the CMS Landscape files:

• Leaving after 2026: 21 plans, spread across several carriers. Aetna is dropping one plan; Centene (WellCare) is dropping nine; Excellus (Univera) is dropping two; Highmark is dropping four; Humana is dropping three; Independent Health is dropping one; MVP is dropping one; and UnitedHealthcare is dropping one.
• New for 2027: 11 plans, including new entries from Aetna, Centene (WellCare), Highmark, Humana, Independent Health, MVP and UnitedHealthcare.
• Renamed: 3 plans — Aetna Medicare Enhanced (PPO) (formerly Aetna Medicare Premier), Wellcare Fidelis Dual Align Unity (HMO D-SNP) (formerly Wellcare Fidelis Dual Align), and UHC Dual Complete NY-YL (HMO-POS D-SNP) (formerly UHC Dual Complete NY-Y001).
• Changing on paper: 15 plans continue but differ on premium, deductible, type or name in CMS's file. Your ANOC has the specifics.
• Continuing unchanged in the file: 46 plans.

The table below on this page lists every plan available in Erie County so you can see where your current plan fits.

If your plan is one of the 21 leaving

You will get a "non-renewal" letter from your insurer, usually in early October. That letter is important — hang on to it. Some of the plans not returning next year include Aetna Medicare Partial Dual (HMO D-SNP), several WellCare plans (Advantage Enhanced, Advantage Simple, Dual Access, Fidelis Dual Liberty Sync, Patriot Simple, Premium Enhanced, Premium Ultra, and Simple), Univera SeniorChoice Core (PPO), Univera SeniorChoice Extra (HMO), Community Blue Medicare HMO Merit, Forever Blue 751 (PPO), Forever Blue Value (PPO), Senior Blue 651 (HMO), Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H3533-002, HumanaChoice Giveback H5970-030 (PPO), HumanaChoice SNP-DE H5970-020 (PPO D-SNP), Independent Health's Encompass 65 RED 043 (HMO), MVP Medicare WellSelect with Part D (PPO), and UHC Dual Complete NY-S002 (HMO-POS D-SNP).

If your plan is on that list, here is the key point: you have more time than most people.

• You can use the regular Annual Enrollment Period, Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, to pick a new Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone Part D plan.
• You also get a Special Enrollment Period that runs through the end of February because your plan is not renewing. During that window you can join another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D drug plan.

If you do nothing, you will generally be moved back to Original Medicare on Jan. 1, but you may lose your drug coverage. That is why it's worth acting during AEP if you can.

If your plan was renamed

Three plans in Erie County have new names but are otherwise continuing: Aetna Medicare Enhanced (PPO), Wellcare Fidelis Dual Align Unity (HMO D-SNP), and UHC Dual Complete NY-YL (HMO-POS D-SNP). A new name does not automatically mean a new plan design — but it's still smart to read the ANOC carefully, since renamed plans often see other changes too.

If your plan is "changing" but continuing

Fifteen plans in Erie County are continuing but show a change on file for 2027. CMS's Landscape file flags that a difference exists on premium, deductible, plan type or name — but the ANOC your insurer sends by late September is where you'll see the actual numbers. Compare it side-by-side with your current benefits before AEP ends on Dec. 7.

New plans arriving for 2027

Eleven plans are new to Erie County for 2027, including Aetna Medicare Chronic Care (HMO C-SNP), Aetna Medicare Chronic Care Total (HMO C-SNP), Aetna Medicare Elite (PPO), Wellcare Fidelis Dual Access (HMO D-SNP), Wellcare Fidelis Dual Liberty Sync (HMO D-SNP), Community Blue Medicare HMO 651 (HMO), Community Blue Medicare HMO Standard (HMO), Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H3533-036 (HMO D-SNP), Independent Health's Encompass 65 RED 045 (HMO), MVP Medicare WellValue with Part D (HMO-POS), and UHC Dual Complete NY-S002 (HMO-POS D-SNP). Several of these are Special Needs Plans, which have eligibility rules based on income, chronic conditions or nursing-home status.

How to decide, step by step

1. Open your ANOC (Annual Notice of Change), mailed by your plan in September. It shows 2027 costs and benefits side by side with 2026. 2. Check your doctors and pharmacy are still in-network for next year — networks can change even when the plan stays. 3. Check your drug list. Confirm your prescriptions are still covered and at what tier. 4. Part D rules to know: the annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027; the maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027; the coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone. You can also opt into the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan to spread drug costs across the year. 5. Compare on medicare.gov using the Plan Finder, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. 6. Get free local help from New York's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), called HIICAP in New York. Erie County has HIICAP counselors who answer questions one-on-one at no cost.