Medicare Advantage

Got a Columbus Plan Termination Notice? Read This

People in Columbus can choose from 79 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 92 this year. 27 of this year’s plans are gone, 14 are new to Franklin County, and 28 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 5 of them under a new name.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — If you have a Medicare Advantage plan in Franklin County, there is a chance your plan will not be back in 2027. According to CMS's 2027 Medicare Advantage Landscape, 27 plans sold here this year are not on the list for next year. The county will still have 79 Medicare Advantage plans from 12 carriers in 2027, but the specific plan you are on may not be one of them.

Here is how to tell, what happens if you do nothing, and what choices you have — including a special window to switch that other members don't get.

How to tell if your plan is on the list

Medicare Advantage carriers are required to mail a non-renewal letter to every member whose plan will not be offered the next year. In Franklin County, those letters go out around early October 2026. The letter will clearly say your plan "will not be offered" or "is being discontinued" for 2027, and it will explain your options.

If you got that letter, your plan is leaving. If you got an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) instead, your plan is renewing — but with changes for 2027. Those are two different documents, so check which one you received.

The table below lists every Medicare Advantage plan in Franklin County that is not returning for 2027, grouped by carrier. The carriers with plans ending here include Aetna (CVS Health), Centene (WellCare), Devoted Health, Humana, MediGold, The Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare.

What happens if you do nothing

If your plan is on the non-returning list and you take no action by December 31, 2026, you will not be left without coverage — but you also won't be automatically moved to another Medicare Advantage plan.

Instead, you will be returned to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) starting January 1, 2027. That means:

• You'll have federal Medicare for hospital and doctor services, with the standard Part A and Part B cost-sharing.
• You will not have Part D prescription drug coverage unless you join a standalone Part D plan.
• You will not have the extra benefits your Advantage plan may have included (such as dental, vision or hearing).

For many people, this is a bigger change than they expect, especially if they rely on drug coverage. That's why acting during the enrollment window matters.

Your Special Enrollment Period

Members of a non-renewing plan get a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that is wider than the regular Annual Enrollment Period. Here is how the two line up:

• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026. Open to everyone with Medicare. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.
• Special Enrollment Period for plan non-renewal: December 8, 2026 through the end of February 2027. This is only for people whose plan is leaving.

During your SEP, you can:

• Join a different Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage).
• Return to Original Medicare and add a standalone Part D prescription drug plan.

If you use the SEP to go back to Original Medicare, you may also have a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policies — meaning the insurer must sell to you regardless of your health history, within set time limits. Ohio has its own rules on top of the federal guarantee; the Ohio Department of Insurance can walk you through what applies.

Your choices, step by step

1. Read the letter. Confirm your plan is listed as non-renewing. Keep the letter — it's your proof for the SEP. 2. Decide on a path. You can either pick a new Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare plus a standalone Part D plan (and possibly a Medigap policy). 3. Compare plans. The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets you enter your ZIP code, doctors and prescriptions to see every option available in Franklin County for 2027. 4. Act within the window. For January 1, 2027 coverage, enroll by December 7, 2026. If you need more time, you can use your Special Enrollment Period through the end of February 2027.

A few 2027 numbers that apply to everyone

Whichever direction you go, some Part D figures are already set for 2027:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026).
• Part D maximum deductible: $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026).
• Part D national base beneficiary premium: $41.33 for 2027 (a formula input, not what any plan charges).

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not been announced yet; CMS typically publishes them in the fall.