Are You Losing Your Advantage Plan?

Is Your Advantage Plan Ending?

If your Medicare Advantage plan is being involuntarily terminated on December 31, 2025, you will revert to Original Medicare (Hospital Part A and Medical Part B) on January 1, 2026 and you will need to enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan.  You may also want to consider applying to a Medigap supplemental plan to help with the out-of-pocket costs with Part A and Part B. 

To enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan, you will need your Medicare ID number from your original red, white, and blue Medicare card and a list of the prescription medications you take, including the dose and frequency.

There are 3 ways you can enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan for 2026 during Open Enrollment:

1. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) during Open Enrollment - October 15 and December 7.

Medicare is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during Open Enrollment. Have your Medicare number and your list of medications ready and be sure your medications are covered by your new plan.

2.  Look in the back of the 2026 Medicare & You book that was mailed to you at the end of September.  The last several pages of the annual Medicare and You 2026 handbook have the Part D (prescription drug insurance plans) for Vermont for 2026.  If you see one you would like to apply for, you can call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 to enroll or you can call the Part D plan directly.  The phone numbers are on the list in the back of the Medicare & You 2026 book.  Be sure to have your Medicare card and list of medications ready. When you call the Part D insurance company, confirm that all your medications are covered by the plan.

3. Go on to the website www.medicare.gov
Click Log In and create an account.  Once you have created your account, click on your name and enter the medications you use under “My Saved Drugs.”  Follow the prompts and add your preferred pharmacies.  Then click “Find Plans Now” and select Part D.  Plan options will be sorted in least expensive to most expensive in total cost (premium, deductible, and copays).  Confirm that your medications are covered by the plan you would like to enroll in.  Choose the plan you want and click Enroll to apply for a plan.  If you have any questions about this process or the plans specifically, call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Are there any Advantage plans I can choose instead of going back to Original Medicare Parts A, B and D?
Advantage plans are offered based on where you live. There are no Advantage plans in 2026 in Washington County or Lamoille County.

There is one Advantage plan available to residents in select towns in Orange County ONLY.  This plan is called the HumanaChoice Giveback.  There are some concerns with the network coverage of this Advantage plan.  Call Humana directly at 1-888-873-0686 to find out if your medications are covered and call your providers to see if they accept the plan before enrolling in it.

Do I need Medigap (supplemental) insurance?  How do I apply for a Medigap?
There are out of pocket costs associated with Original Medicare Part A and Part B.  You can learn more about these costs on www.medicare.gov or by speaking with an insurance company or insurance agent.

You can enroll in a Medigap plan to help cover your out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare Part A and Part B.

If your Medicare Advantage plan is ending, you have a 63-day Special Enrollment Period (which ends on Feb 28, 2026) to enroll in a Medigap.

Keep the letters that are sent to you from CMS and your Advantage plan because they serve as proof of your Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

If you do not enroll in a Medigap plan during your SEP, no insurer has to offer you a policy outside that timeframe.

You do not need a Medigap plan if you have Medicaid or QMB. To qualify for Medicaid, your gross monthly income generally needs to be below $1,333 and to qualify for QMB on Jan 1, 2026 your gross monthly income must be below $1957 for a single person and $2644 for a married couple. Contact Green Mountain Care at 1-800-250-8427.

Medigap plans are federally regulated, and all plans of the same type cover the same benefits (Ex: all Plan Gs cover exactly the same benefits).

Once enrolled in a Medigap plan, you can keep that plan for life if you choose to.

For more information about Medigaps and what they cover, contact an insurance agent at one of the numbers below or research Medigaps on www.medicare.gov.

Where can I buy a Medigap policy?
You can buy a Medicare Supplement insurance policy from any insurance company or insurance agent that is licensed in and approved to sell these policies in Vermont.  Insurers approved to sell policies in Vermont include:

AFLAC (local agents): 802-861-2900 x122 or 802-793-1438 or 802-323-3484

Blue Cross Blue Shield of VT 1-800-255-4550

Continental Life Insurance Co./Aetna: 1-800-358-8749

Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company: 1-888-678-3403

Humana Insurance Company: 1-888-310-8482 or local agent 802-793-1438

Medco/Cigna Health and Life: 1-866-459-4272 or local agent 802-861-2900 x122

Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co: 1-855-977-6312 or local agent 802-861-2900 x122

State Farm Insurance: (local agent) 802-479-3353

United American: 1-800-331-2512 or local agent 802-793-1438

United Healthcare (AARP): 1-800-523-5800 or local agent 802-861-2900 x122

USAA Life: 1-800-531-9982

Washington National: 1-800-621-3724 or local agent 802-861-2900 x122

Wisconsin Physician Services:  1-888-915-5108

Medigap Monthly Premium Rate Examples
Click here for the Medigap rate charts. Contact individual insurers for up-to-date rates and specific plans offered. 

For more information, sign up for one of our online Open Enrollment Workshops:
Email your name, address, and date of birth and which workshop(s) you’d like to attend to [email protected].

Medicare 101:

Wed., October 22, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Wed., November 19, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.  

Open Enrollment:

Wed., October 29,  12:00 - 1:30 p.m. 

Medigaps:

Wed., November 12, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.