Medicare Advantage

If a non-renewal letter arrived in Plano, here is what it means for 2027

For 2027, Plano is looking at 81 Medicare Advantage plans: 21 new, 37 gone since 2026, and 30 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 9 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Collin County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

PLANO, Texas — If you opened your mailbox this fall and found a letter saying your Medicare Advantage plan will not be offered in 2027, you are not alone. In Collin County, which includes Plano, 37 Medicare Advantage plans on the shelf in 2026 are not returning for 2027, according to CMS's Medicare Advantage Landscape files. The letter you received is called a non-renewal notice, and it gives you a specific set of rights and a longer window to pick what comes next.

How do I tell if my Medicare Advantage plan is leaving Plano for 2027?

Your plan is required by CMS to mail you a non-renewal notice, usually arriving in October 2026. It will say your plan will not be offered in 2027 and that your coverage ends December 31, 2026. It is a separate letter from the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) that renewing plans send, and the wording is direct — look for phrases like "will not be offered," "non-renewal," or "will no longer be available in your service area."

If you want to double-check, you can call the plan at the number on your member ID card, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or look up your plan on medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

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

The table below lists every plan on the non-renewal list for Collin County. Thirty-seven plans across several carriers are affected, including options from Aetna (CVS Health), American Health Advantage of Texas, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), Centene (WellCare), Elevance Health (Anthem), HealthSpring, Humana and UnitedHealthcare.

A few examples from the list, in alphabetical order by carrier: Aetna Medicare Enhanced (PPO) and Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO); American Health Advantage of Texas (HMO I-SNP); BSW SeniorCare Advantage Essentials (HMO-POS); several Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO and HMO plans; Wellcare Dual Liberty (HMO D-SNP) and Wellcare Giveback (HMO); Wellpoint Dual Advantage, Dual Advantage 2 and Full Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP); HealthSpring True Choice Savings (PPO); two Humana Gold Choice PFFS plans, Humana USAA Honor Giveback (PPO) and HumanaChoice H5216-042 (PPO); AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC TX-0005 (PPO), AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx TX-MA06 (PPO), the Erickson Advantage lineup, and several UHC Dual Complete and UHC Complete Care SNPs.

If your plan name is on the full list below, your coverage ends December 31, 2026. If it isn't, your plan is renewing — read the ANOC it sent for 2027 changes.

What happens in Plano if I do nothing after a non-renewal letter?

You will not lose Medicare. On January 1, 2027, you automatically go back to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). You will be able to see any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare, but Original Medicare by itself does not include prescription drug coverage, and it does not cap your yearly out-of-pocket costs the way a Medicare Advantage plan does.

That means doing nothing is a real choice — just not usually the one people want to make without thinking it through. Without a stand-alone Part D plan, you could also face a late-enrollment penalty later if you go more than 63 days without creditable drug coverage.

What are my choices and when do I have to decide?

You have three main paths:

1. Pick a different Medicare Advantage plan for 2027. In Collin County, 81 Medicare Advantage plans from 12 carriers will be offered for 2027. 2. Stay with Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan. 3. Stay with Original Medicare, add a Part D plan, and add a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy to help with Original Medicare's cost-sharing.

You can make a change during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7, 2026) for coverage starting January 1, 2027. If you miss that window, members of a non-renewed Medicare Advantage plan get a Special Enrollment Period that runs from December 8, 2026 through February 28, 2027 to join another Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D plan. That SEP exists specifically because your plan is leaving.

You may also qualify for a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap policies without medical underwriting when your Medicare Advantage plan non-renews. The federal protection exists; the specific plan letters and timing rules in Texas are set at the state level, so contact the Texas Department of Insurance or call 1-800-MEDICARE to confirm what applies to you.

What should I actually do this fall in Plano?

Start with the letter and your prescription list. Pull out the non-renewal notice so you know your exact plan name. Make a list of your medications, your doctors and any hospitals you want to keep using. Then go to medicare.gov's Plan Finder, enter your Plano ZIP code and your drug list, and compare 2027 options side by side. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A few 2027 program-level numbers worth knowing as you compare: the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and the Part D maximum deductible rises to $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026). CMS will publish the 2027 Part B premium and deductible, along with the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, later this fall.