Losing Your Medicare Advantage Plan in New Hampshire? Your Medigap Rights and Deadlines

By Marc Gilman, Licensed Medicare Agent, Gilman Agency

Thousands of New Hampshire residents are getting letters this fall saying their Medicare Advantage plan won't continue in 2027. According to the New Hampshire Insurance Department, Aetna and WellSense are leaving the state's Medicare Advantage market, affecting more than 14,200 people, and some other plans are not renewing in parts of the state.

Most of the attention has gone to which companies are leaving and which are coming in. But there's a deadline that's easy to miss: your right to buy a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy without answering health questions. Here are the questions I'm hearing most, and the answers.

My Medicare Advantage plan is ending. What happens if I do nothing?

You won't lose Medicare. If you don't choose new coverage, you'll be moved to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) on January 1, 2027. But you won't have a Medigap policy to help with Original Medicare's deductibles and 20% coinsurance, which has no yearly cap. And if your Medicare Advantage plan included drug coverage, you won't have that either until you join a Part D plan.

You also have time. Annual Enrollment runs through December 7, and because your plan is ending, you have a Special Enrollment Period from December 8, 2026, through February 28, 2027. Coverage chosen during that period starts the first of the following month, so waiting into January or February can mean weeks without drug coverage.

What is a Medigap guaranteed-issue right?

Normally, if you apply for a Medigap policy after your first six months on Part B, the insurer can ask about your health and can charge you more or turn you down. A guaranteed-issue right is the exception. When your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or stops offering coverage, federal law says a Medigap insurer:

• can't turn you down,

• can't charge you more because of your health, and

• can't make you wait for coverage of a pre-existing condition.

The timing is what matters. You can apply as early as 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends, and the right lasts until 63 days after it ends. For a plan ending December 31, 2026, that's roughly early November through early March. Apply early enough and your Medigap policy can start January 1, with no gap.

Keep your plan's non-renewal letter. It documents why your coverage ended, and some insurers may ask for a copy.

Which Medigap plans can I buy with no health questions?

Under federal rules, this guaranteed-issue right lets you buy Medigap Plans A, B, D, G, K or L. If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, Plans C and F are also included. Plan G is the most common choice for people new to Medicare today. It covers everything Plan F does except the yearly Part B deductible.

Medigap plans are standardized by letter. A Plan G from one insurer covers exactly the same benefits as a Plan G from another. What differs is the premium, the insurer's service, and how its rates have changed over time.

A lower-premium option oftentimes overlooked: High-Deductible Plan G. If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, you can also look at high-deductible Plan G. It covers the same benefits as Plan G, but only after you pay a yearly deductible. CMS set that deductible at $3,050 for 2027, up from $2,950 in 2026. Premiums are typically much lower than standard Plan G, so it can suit people who want protection against a large bill but expect to use little care. Ask the insurer whether it's available to you under your guaranteed-issue right. (High-deductible Plan F has the same deductible but is only for people eligible for Medicare before 2020.)

Are there other times I can buy Medigap without health questions?

Yes. Federal rules include a few others:

• Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. The six months starting the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. You can buy any Medigap plan sold to new enrollees.

• The "trial right." If you dropped a Medigap policy to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time, and you leave that plan within 12 months, you can generally get your old policy back if the same insurer still sells it, or buy one of the plans listed above.

• Joining Medicare Advantage at 65. If you joined a Medicare Advantage plan when you first became eligible at 65, and you switch to Original Medicare within 12 months, you can buy any Medigap plan available to you.

Outside these windows, expect health questions.

Do I still need a Part D drug plan?

Yes, if you go with Original Medicare and Medigap. Medigap doesn't cover prescriptions. If you go 63 days or more in a row without creditable drug coverage, you may owe a late-enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part D. Choose a Part D plan by December 7 for a January 1 start, and check that each of your drugs is covered and which pharmacy to use.

How do I compare Medigap insurers in New Hampshire?

The New Hampshire Insurance Department's 2026 Guide to Medicare Supplement Insurance lists 22 insurers with approved rates in the state, including Anthem, Humana, UnitedHealthcare/AARP, Mutual of Omaha, Transamerica and others. A few things to know:

• Rates vary by insurer, age, gender and tobacco use. Most insurers charge the same rates statewide, though at least one insurer prices some ZIP codes differently.

• Ask how rates are set. Some policies are priced on your age when you buy and rise with age over time. Ask each insurer how its rates have changed in recent years.

• Check discounts and fees. Some insurers offer household, annual-payment or electronic-payment discounts, and some charge a one-time policy fee. The state guide lists these on each insurer's rate page.

• Get current rates. The Department publishes an online rate dashboard.

• Or, make it easy on yourself and give us a call. We evaluate healthcare plans daily. We know all of the carriers and their track records.

What should I do this week?

1. Find your non-renewal letter and note the date your coverage ends.

2. List your doctors, hospital, prescriptions and pharmacy.

3. Decide whether you want Original Medicare with Medigap, or another Medicare Advantage plan. If you're leaning toward Medigap, plan to apply inside your guaranteed-issue window, ideally before December 31.

4. Choose a Part D plan if you go with Original Medicare.

5. Don't cancel anything yourself. Your ending plan stops on its own on December 31.

If you'd like help, a licensed agent can compare Medigap insurers and Part D plans for you at no cost.

About the Author

Marc Gilman is a licensed independent insurance agent and owner of Gilman Agency, with offices in Bedford, Hampstead and Dover, NH. He helps people across New Hampshire compare Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Part D options. Reach him at (800) 927-9326 or www.gilmanagency.com.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 4 organizations which offer 28 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

This article is general educational content, current as of October 26, 2026. It is not a recommendation for any specific plan or insurer. Guaranteed-issue rights depend on why your coverage is ending; confirm yours before you make a change. Gilman Agency is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.