AARP UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage NH-0003 Ending: What NH Members Need to Know

The AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NH-0003 (PPO) plan will not be offered in 2027, and coverage ends December 31, 2026. If you are a member in Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, or Strafford County, New Hampshire, you need to choose new coverage — ideally by December 7, 2026, the close of Annual Enrollment.

This notice is not a suggestion to shop around. It is a real gap in your coverage that leaves a decision on your desk: pick a replacement plan before the year ends or fall back to Original Medicare without drug coverage or a yearly out-of-pocket cap. Members are not moved into another plan automatically, so inaction has real cost.

NH-0003 is ending — cancelation letters sent

UnitedHealthcare sent non-renewal notices dated October 2, 2026 to members of plans it is discontinuing. Keep that letter — it is your written confirmation that coverage is ending.

Four counties are affected

NH-0003 was sold only in four New Hampshire counties: Hillsborough (including Bedford and Manchester), Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford. Every member in those counties needs to pick new coverage. Again, members are not moved into another plan automatically.

Medicare coverage continues — but with a gap

No. If you do nothing, you return to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027. But you would have no drug coverage and no yearly limit on what you pay for medical care, so it is worth making an active choice.

Three coverage paths for 2027

You have three main paths:

1. Another Medicare Advantage plan offered in your county for 2027.

2. Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and a Part D drug plan. Because your plan is ending, you may be able to buy Medigap without health questions.

3. Original Medicare with a Part D plan only. This usually has a lower premium but no yearly cap on medical costs.

2027 plans in the four counties

There are three healthcare carriers offering Medicare Advantage in these four counties for 2027:

• UnitedHealthcare and Humana both offer PPO and HMO-type plans in Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford counties.

• Devoted Health offers PPO plans in Hillsborough County only in this area.

Statewide, New Hampshire has 14 local PPO plans for 2027, up from 10 in 2026. Benefits, networks, and drug lists differ by plan, so compare each one against your own doctors and prescriptions. Naming a company here is not an endorsement, and no company has endorsed this article.

Deadlines run December 7 through March 4

• December 7, 2026: Annual Enrollment ends. Choices made by now start January 1, 2027.

• December 31, 2026: Last day to join another Medicare Advantage plan for a January 1 start, because your plan is ending.

• February 28, 2027: Your Special Enrollment Period ends. Coverage chosen in January or February starts the first of the next month.

• About March 4, 2027: Your Medigap guaranteed-issue window ends. It opens about 60 days before your coverage ends and closes 63 days after.

No need to cancel NH-0003 yourself. It ends on its own on December 31.

Check doctors, drugs, and out-of-pocket caps first

Use what you had in NH-0003 as your checklist. In 2026 it had a $70 monthly premium, no medical deductible, a $6,700 in-network out-of-pocket maximum, and access to a national network at in-network cost. Before you pick a 2027 plan, check:

• Your doctors and hospitals, by name, including any specialists out of state

• Every prescription, its tier, and your pharmacy

• The out-of-pocket maximum and hospital copays, not just the premium

• Out-of-network rules, especially if you travel or winter away

• Extras you use, such as dental, vision, and hearing

Free local help from Gilman Agency in Bedford

Gilman Agency is an independent Medicare agency serving all of New Hampshire NH, including Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford counties. We offer free, no-obligation plan reviews in person or by phone. Call (800) 927-9326, email marc@gilmanagency.com, or request a call at gilmanagency.com/permission-to-contact.

For the full breakdown, including a county-by-county plan list and NH-0003's 2026 benefits, see our complete guide to the NH-0003 PPO ending.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by UnitedHealthcare or any carrier named. This article is for general education and is current as of October 23, 2026. 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.