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Plan Exit Rescue CenterHelp for people whose Medicare plan is ending

What does non-renewal mean on my Medicare letter?

Non-renewal means your plan is not continuing into the new year — Medicare calls the mailing a Plan Non-Renewal Notice and sends it in October when a plan is leaving Medicare, so your coverage under that plan ends December 31.

Plain translation

The insurance company is not renewing its contract for your plan. You are not being cancelled for anything you did, and you are not losing Medicare.

What the notice triggers

  • A Special Enrollment Period, because you are losing your current coverage.
  • A Medigap guaranteed-issue right, which CMS describes as available when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare, ending no later than 63 days after your coverage ends.
  • The need to join a Medicare drug plan to keep drug coverage.

Keep the letter

The plan name and contract number on it are what a counselor or a plan will ask for. If you have already thrown it out, 1-800-MEDICARE can look up your current plan.