Your Medicare Advantage Plan Is Leaving Florida for 2027: What to Do and By When

• Medicare Advantage insurers must send non-renewal notices by October 2, 2026, according to reporting on CMS rules (Yahoo Finance, 2026).
• Florida drops from 611 Medicare Advantage plans in 2026 to 560 in 2027, the largest loss of any state, according to Becker's Payer Issues (2026).
• The annual enrollment period runs October 15 to December 7, and the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period runs January 1 to March 31 (Medicare.gov, 2026).
• If you return to Original Medicare, you have a guaranteed-issue right to buy Medigap for 63 days after your plan ends (reported by Yahoo Finance, 2026).

A letter from your Medicare Advantage plan is not fun to open. If it says the plan will not return to your Florida county in 2027, you still have time and you still have choices. This guide explains your dates, your three options and what to check before you sign.

Why are Medicare Advantage plans leaving Florida for 2027?

Insurers cut Medicare Advantage plans each fall when they decide where they can still make money. For 2027, Becker's Payer Issues (2026) reports that Aetna is leaving 123 counties, Humana 57 counties and UnitedHealthcare 140 counties across the country.

Florida is hit hard. Becker's Payer Issues (2026) reports that Florida goes from 611 plans in 2026 to 560 in 2027, the biggest drop of any state. That is 51 fewer plans.

The number of plans in Florida can change as final filings come in. Your own letter is the only source that matters for your plan. For the story behind one carrier's exit, read our guide to the Aetna Medicare Advantage Florida exit→.

What dates matter if my plan is ending?

Three windows matter. The first is the notice. Insurers must mail non-renewal notices by October 2, 2026 (Yahoo Finance, 2026).

The second is the annual enrollment period, October 15 to December 7. Plans you pick during this window start January 1, 2027 (Medicare.gov, 2026).

The third is the special enrollment period for people whose plan ends. Under federal rules at 42 CFR 422.62, it runs December 8 through the last day of February. That means you do not lose your chance if you miss December 7.

What are my three options?

You can choose another Medicare Advantage plan, return to Original Medicare with a Medigap plan, or return to Original Medicare and add a drug plan only. Each fits a different person.

Option 1: Another Medicare Advantage plan. You keep one plan that bundles hospital and doctor coverage and often drugs. The tradeoff is a network. Your doctors must be in it.

Option 2: Original Medicare plus Medigap and a drug plan. You can use any doctor who takes Medicare. A Medigap plan pays much of what Medicare leaves behind. You pay two or three separate premiums.

Option 3: Original Medicare and a drug plan only. This has the lowest monthly cost and the highest risk. Original Medicare has no yearly out-of-pocket cap.

Do I have a guaranteed right to buy Medigap?

Yes, in most cases. If your Medicare Advantage plan ends and you return to Original Medicare, federal law gives you a guaranteed-issue right. The insurer cannot turn you down or charge you more because of your health.

Reporting by Yahoo Finance (2026) says this right lasts 63 days after your plan ends. Apply before that window closes. If you wait, an insurer in most states can ask health questions and say no.

Some Medigap plans are only open to people who first joined Medicare before 2020. Ask which plan letters you can buy.

What should I check before I pick a new plan?

Check four things before you choose: doctors, drugs, total yearly cost and the plan's rating. A cheap premium can hide high costs on the things you use most.

1. List every doctor, clinic and hospital you use. Search each one in the new plan's directory.
2. List every drug, with the dose. Check each one against the plan's drug list and its pharmacy.
3. Add up the yearly cost: premium, deductible, copays and the out-of-pocket maximum. The Medicare Advantage maximum can reach $9,250 for 2026 (Yahoo Finance, 2026).
4. Confirm the plan serves your county for all of 2027, not just January.

Do these before December 7 when you can. The December 8 window is a safety net. It is not a plan.

What if I do nothing?

If your plan ends and you pick nothing, you are moved to Original Medicare on January 1. You will not have drug coverage unless you join a drug plan. You may also lose your Medigap guarantee if you wait past the window.

Many people do not read the notice because it looks like routine mail. Open it and put the dates on your calendar.

Who can help me compare Florida plans?

A licensed Benecor professional can compare plans that are open to you in your ZIP code. We look at your doctors, your drugs and your budget, then explain your options in plain words. A free call does not commit you to anything. Benecor does not offer every plan available in your area. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, unbiased help.

Schedule a call with a licensed professional→. You can also read our guide to the Aetna Medicare Advantage exit in Florida→.

Sources: Medicare.gov, Medicare enrollment periods (2026); Becker's Payer Issues, Medicare Advantage insurers ranked by county entries and exits in 2027 (2026); Yahoo Finance, reporting on Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research on forced Medicare Advantage disenrollment, the October 2 notice deadline, the December 8 special enrollment period and Medigap guaranteed issue (2026); 42 CFR 422.62, Election of coverage under an MA plan (federal regulation, current as of 2026).