If you're one of the roughly 600,000 people whose Humana Medicare Advantage plan is going away, here's the short version: you are not losing Medicare, you have real options, and you have time to act — but you do need to act. This guide walks you through exactly what's happening, the deadlines that matter, and the steps to take so you don't end up with a gap in your coverage.

What's actually happening

Humana has announced it will stop offering some of its Medicare Advantage plans in 2027. The company is pulling out of markets it considers unprofitable rather than trimming benefits everywhere, and the plans being dropped are mostly those with lower star ratings (3.5 stars or below). After the change, Humana's Medicare Advantage footprint will cover 46 states and about 85% of U.S. counties.

The reason is financial. Humana's leadership has said the goal is to return the business to a "sustainable" profit margin, so the company is exiting its least-profitable plans. That's cold comfort if you're one of the members affected — but it's important to understand that this is a business decision about specific plans, not a change to your underlying Medicare benefits.

Here's the timeline that matters to you:

• September 2026: Humana mails non-renewal letters (sometimes called an Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC) to affected members. This is the letter that tells you your specific plan is ending. If you get one, keep it — it contains your plan's details and your personal enrollment deadlines.
• December 31, 2026: This is the last day your current Humana plan provides coverage. On January 1, 2027, that plan no longer exists.
• January 1, 2027: Your new coverage — whatever you choose — begins.

One clarification worth making, because the dates have been reported in confusing ways: September 30, 2026 is roughly when the letters arrive, not when your coverage ends. Your coverage runs through the end of 2026. So if you've heard you're being "dropped by September 30," take a breath — you have until the end of the year, and there's a clear process to follow.

First: don't panic, and don't ignore it

The single worst thing you can do is nothing. If your plan ends and you take no action, you'll be moved to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) on January 1, 2027 — but with no prescription drug coverage and no supplemental (Medigap) plan. For anyone taking regular medications or managing a chronic condition, that can mean real out-of-pocket costs and a coverage gap. So treat the letter as a to-do item, not junk mail.

The good news: because your plan is being discontinued through no fault of your own, Medicare gives you extra protections and a longer window to choose new coverage than you'd normally have.

Your enrollment deadlines

You have two windows to make a change:

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7, 2026. This is the standard window when anyone on Medicare can switch plans. During AEP you can pick a new Medicare Advantage plan (from Humana or any other insurer) or move to Original Medicare with a standalone Part D drug plan. Any choice you make here takes effect January 1, 2027 — perfectly lined up with when your old plan ends. For most people, using AEP is the cleanest path.

A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) because your plan is leaving. When your plan is non-renewed, you also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period that extends past December 7 — generally running through the end of February 2027. This is a safety net in case you miss the standard window. Your non-renewal letter will list your exact SEP dates, so check it rather than assuming. If you use the SEP after December 7, your new coverage typically starts the first of the month after you enroll — which could leave a short gap, another reason to try to decide during AEP.

Your four main options

When you sit down to choose, you're really choosing among a few paths:

1. Pick another Medicare Advantage plan. This might be a different Humana plan that's still offered in your area, or a plan from another insurer. If you like the Advantage structure (one plan, often with dental/vision extras and a $0 or low premium), this keeps you in a similar setup. Check that your doctors and prescriptions are in the new plan's network and formulary — that's the most common thing people get wrong.
2. Switch to Original Medicare plus a Part D drug plan. This gives you the broadest doctor and hospital choice (any provider that accepts Medicare, nationwide), and you add a standalone prescription drug plan to cover medications.
3. Original Medicare plus a Part D plan plus a Medigap (supplement) policy. Adding a Medigap plan to Original Medicare helps cover the deductibles and coinsurance that Original Medicare leaves you responsible for. This is often the most predictable option cost-wise — and, crucially, right now you may have a special right to buy one (see below).
4. Do nothing and land on Original Medicare with no drug coverage. As noted, this is the option to avoid.

The Medigap window you shouldn't miss

Here's a protection many people don't know about. Normally, if you want to buy a Medigap supplement policy after your initial enrollment, insurers can charge you more — or turn you down — based on your health history. But when your Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued, you generally get "guaranteed-issue" rights: for a limited time, insurers must sell you certain Medigap plans regardless of your health, and can't charge you more because of pre-existing conditions.

This window is time-limited — typically you can apply starting up to 60 days before your coverage ends and up to 63 days after it ends. If a Medigap plan is something you want, this is an unusually good moment to get one, and the window closes in early 2027. Don't sit on it.

A simple step-by-step

1. Watch your mail in September 2026 and open anything from Humana. Set the non-renewal letter aside somewhere safe.
2. Make a list of your current doctors, any hospitals you use, and all your prescriptions (with dosages).
3. Compare plans starting October 15 using the official plan finder at Medicare.gov, which lets you enter your drugs and check networks, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.
4. Get free help comparing your options. Reach out to us at Mauldin Insurance Group — we work with multiple carriers, so we can compare plans across companies (not just Humana), check that your doctors and prescriptions are covered, and walk you through the Medigap decision. There's no cost to you to have us help you sort it out. You can also use your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which offers free counseling in every state.
5. Enroll by December 7, 2026 if you can, so your new coverage starts seamlessly on January 1. If you need more time, use your Special Enrollment Period — but confirm the exact deadline on your letter.
6. If you want a Medigap policy, apply within your guaranteed-issue window so you can't be turned down for health reasons.

The bottom line

Losing a plan feels stressful, but this is a well-worn path with clear rules built to protect you. You keep your Medicare either way — the task in front of you is choosing the replacement coverage that fits your doctors, your medications, and your budget. Mark your calendar for October 15, watch the mail in September, and don't wait until the last minute.

If you'd like a hand, the team at Mauldin Insurance Group is here to help. We'll review your non-renewal letter, compare your options across carriers, and make sure you land on coverage that works for you — with no gap in January. Reach out to us today and we'll take it from here.

This article is for general informational purposes and isn't a substitute for personalized advice. Confirm the details in your own non-renewal letter and consider speaking with a licensed Medicare counselor or agent about your specific situation.