Medicare Advantage

Got a Richmond non-renewal letter? Here's what to do

People in Richmond can choose from 74 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 72 this year. Eight of this year’s plans are gone, 10 are new to Richmond city, and 42 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 14 of them under a new name.

RICHMOND, Va. — Eight Medicare Advantage plans sold in Richmond this year will not be offered again when 2027 coverage begins on January 1, according to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape files for 2026 and 2027. If you are in one of them, your plan's insurer is required to mail a non-renewal letter this fall explaining the change and your options.

The rest of the Richmond-area lineup keeps moving too. For 2027, the Landscape file lists 74 Medicare Advantage plans from 8 carriers in Richmond city, with new plans added, some names changed, and the eight below retired.

Which Medicare Advantage plans are not returning to Richmond in 2027?

Eight plans offered in Richmond city in 2026 are not in CMS's 2027 Landscape file for the county. Listed alphabetically by carrier, they are:

• Aetna Medicare Enhanced Plus (PPO) — Aetna (CVS Health)
• Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO) — Aetna (CVS Health)
• Anthem Full Dual Advantage 2 (HMO D-SNP) — Elevance Health (Anthem)
• HealthSpring Courage (HMO) — HealthSpring
• AARP Medicare Advantage Access from UHC VA-20 (PPO) — UnitedHealthcare
• AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC VA-0011 (HMO-POS) — UnitedHealthcare
• AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC VA-0012 (HMO-POS) — UnitedHealthcare
• UHC Dual Complete VA-Y3 (HMO-POS D-SNP) — UnitedHealthcare

Richmond is in Richmond city, and Medicare plan availability is set at the county level — so this list applies to anyone whose plan is tied to Richmond city. Many Richmond-area residents live in neighboring counties (Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover), where the non-returning list can look different.

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

If your plan will not be offered next year, the insurer must mail you a non-renewal notice by early October 2026. The envelope and letter will say something like "Plan Non-Renewal Notice" or "Important information about your plan ending December 31, 2026."

The letter will name your current plan, confirm the end date (December 31, 2026), explain that your coverage will not continue on January 1, 2027, and describe your options. It is separate from the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) that goes to members whose plan is simply renewing with updates. If you cannot find the letter, call the member services number on your plan ID card.

What happens if I do nothing after my plan is non-renewed?

If your Medicare Advantage plan is on the list above and you do not pick a new plan, you will automatically return to Original Medicare — Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) — on January 1, 2027. You will not be left without health coverage.

But Original Medicare does not include prescription drug coverage. If your current Medicare Advantage plan included Part D, that drug coverage ends with the plan. To avoid a gap and a possible late enrollment penalty later, most people in this situation also enroll in a stand-alone Part D plan or choose a new Medicare Advantage plan that includes drugs.

What Special Enrollment Period do I get if my plan is leaving?

When CMS confirms a plan non-renewal, affected members get a Special Enrollment Period that runs from December 8, 2026 through the end of February 2027. During that window you can:

• Enroll in a different Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage), or
• Stay with Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.

You can also make the change during the Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage, which runs October 15 through December 7, 2026 — and for most people that is the simpler path, because the new plan starts cleanly on January 1.

A plan non-renewal also triggers a Medigap guaranteed-issue right at the federal level, which lets you buy certain Medicare Supplement policies without medical underwriting within a set window. Virginia has its own rules on which Medigap plans are available and when; the Virginia Bureau of Insurance can confirm what applies to you.

What are my choices for 2027 coverage in Richmond?

For 2027, CMS lists 74 Medicare Advantage plans from 8 carriers available in Richmond city. The table on this page lists every plan offered for 2027, including new plans and plans whose names have changed from 2026. Reviewing the full list — not just the first mailer that lands in your mailbox — is the point of this window.

A few things worth checking as you compare:

• Whether your doctors, hospitals and preferred pharmacy are in the plan's network for 2027.
• Whether your regular prescriptions are on the plan's formulary and what tier they sit on.
• The plan type (HMO, HMO-POS, PPO, PFFS) and how referrals and out-of-network care work.
• Program-level 2027 drug rules that apply across all Part D plans: the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and the maximum Part D deductible rises to $700 (up from $615 in 2026).

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, had not yet been announced by CMS at publication; those are typically released in the fall.

Where can I get help comparing plans?

The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov is the official tool to compare every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan available at your ZIP code, with your drugs and pharmacy entered. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for personalized help.

If you are losing a plan, keep the non-renewal letter — it is proof of your Special Enrollment Period and your Medigap guaranteed-issue right.