Medicare Advantage

Before January 1: what Webb County members should do

For 2027, Laredo is looking at 53 Medicare Advantage plans: 9 new, 20 gone since 2026, and 24 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 8 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Webb County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

LAREDO, Texas — Fall 2026. Some Medicare Advantage members in Webb County are opening a letter this fall that uses the phrase "non-renewal" — the plain-language signal that the plan they have now will not be sold in 2027. In Webb County, the county Laredo is in, 20 Medicare Advantage plans listed for 2026 are not in CMS's 2027 file, according to the agency's Landscape Source Files. If one of those plans is yours, you have time, options, and a Special Enrollment Period that most members do not get.

How can I tell if my Laredo Medicare Advantage plan is ending in 2027?

Look for a letter from your plan, mailed by early October 2026, that says your plan is "non-renewing" or "will not be offered" in your area next year. This is a separate mailing from the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) that renewing plans send. It will explain that coverage ends December 31, 2026, and it will tell you about your right to pick a new plan.

The 20 plans not returning in Webb County for 2027, by carrier and in alphabetical order, are: Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Basic (HMO), Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Complete (PPO), Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dental Premier (PPO), Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dual Care Plus (HMO D-SNP), Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Health Choice (PPO), and Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Protect (PPO) from Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC); Wellcare Assist (HMO), Wellcare Dual Access (HMO D-SNP), Wellcare Dual Liberty (HMO D-SNP), Wellcare Patriot Simple (HMO), Wellcare Simple (HMO), and Wellcare Simple Open (PPO) from Centene (WellCare); HealthSpring True Choice (PPO) from HealthSpring; Humana Gold Choice H8145-084 (PFFS) and Humana USAA Honor Giveback (PPO) from Humana; Prominence Beyond (HMO) from Prominence Health Plan; and UHC Complete Care Support TX-1A (Regional PPO C-SNP), UHC Dual Complete TX-D007 (HMO-POS D-SNP), UHC Dual Complete TX-S003 (HMO-POS D-SNP), and UHC Dual Complete TX-V010 (HMO-POS D-SNP) from UnitedHealthcare. The table below lists every 2026 plan in the county alongside its status.

What happens on January 1, 2027 if I do nothing in Laredo?

If your plan is on the non-returning list and you make no choice, you are automatically returned to Original Medicare — Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) — starting January 1, 2027. You keep your Medicare, but you lose the extras your Advantage plan bundled in, and you do not automatically get Part D drug coverage.

That matters because without a stand-alone Part D plan, a late-enrollment penalty can start adding up. If you want prescription coverage, you need to actively enroll in either a stand-alone Part D plan or a new Medicare Advantage plan that includes drugs.

What Special Enrollment Period do I get if my plan is non-renewed?

Members of a non-renewing plan get a Special Enrollment Period that runs from December 8, 2026 through the end of February 2027. During that window you can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or move to Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D plan. This is on top of the regular Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7, 2026), when any Medicare beneficiary can change plans for a January 1, 2027 start date.

You also get a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policies if you move to Original Medicare because your Advantage plan is leaving. Guaranteed issue means an insurer cannot turn you down or charge more because of your health. The specific Medigap plans available in Texas and the exact rules are set by the Texas Department of Insurance; call them or Medicare for details before you buy.

What are my choices for 2027 coverage in Webb County?

For 2027, CMS lists 53 Medicare Advantage plans from 8 carriers in Webb County — fewer than the 64 plans offered in 2026, because 20 are leaving, 9 are new, and 8 are renamed. You can:

• Pick a different Medicare Advantage plan for 2027. The ANOC or Plan Finder will show what each plan covers next year.
• Return to Original Medicare and, if you want drug coverage, add a stand-alone Part D plan.
• Add a Medigap policy to Original Medicare, using your guaranteed-issue right if you qualify.

A few 2027 program figures are already set: the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 (from $2,100 in 2026), and the Part D maximum deductible is $700 (up from $615 in 2026). The 2027 Part B premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not been announced yet; CMS usually publishes them in November.

When should I act, and where do I compare plans?

The Annual Enrollment deadline is December 7, 2026 for a January 1, 2027 start. If your plan is non-renewing, you have until the end of February 2027 to use your Special Enrollment Period — but acting during Annual Enrollment avoids a gap in drug coverage.

To compare plans by your doctors, pharmacies and medicines, use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.