By Marc Gilman
Call (800) 927-9326 | Email marc@gilmanagency.com
If you have an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan in Rockingham County, it ends on December 31, 2026. That includes the prescription drug coverage built into your plan. CVS Health, Aetna’s parent company, is leaving New Hampshire’s Medicare Advantage market for 2027.
Medicare Annual Enrollment opened today, October 15, and runs through December 7. If you live in Derry, Salem, Londonderry, Portsmouth, Exeter, Hampstead, or anywhere else in Rockingham County, here is what is changing, what your options are, and the dates that matter.
Key Takeaways
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Aetna Medicare Advantage plans in Rockingham County end December 31, 2026, including their built-in drug coverage.
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For 2027, Medicare Advantage plans in Rockingham County are offered by UnitedHealthcare and Humana. You can also choose Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and a Part D drug plan.
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Choose by December 7 and your new coverage starts January 1, with no gap.
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Because your plan is ending, you also have a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 through the last day of February, and a limited window to buy a Medigap plan without health questions.
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If you do nothing, you will be moved to Original Medicare on January 1, without drug or Medigap coverage.
What Is Changing in Rockingham County for 2027?
Aetna had already narrowed its New Hampshire Medicare Advantage plans to Rockingham and Hillsborough counties for 2026. For 2027, Aetna (CVS Health) and WellSense are both leaving the state’s Medicare Advantage market. Together, the two exits affect more than 14,200 people statewide, according to the New Hampshire Insurance Department.
You should have received a plan non-renewal letter from Aetna. Keep it. It confirms your plan is ending and your special enrollment rights.
What Are Your Options for 2027?
You have two main paths. Neither is right for everyone. The right fit depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, your budget, and how much cost you want to carry when you need care.
If you see doctors in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, check every provider against each plan’s network, or consider whether Original Medicare’s nationwide access matters more to you.
What Are the Key Dates?
Choosing by December 7 is the simplest way to avoid a gap in coverage. If you wait until January, your new coverage may not start until the following month.
Why Should You Not Wait?
If you are moved to Original Medicare on January 1, you will have no Part D drug coverage and no Medigap coverage unless you choose them. That can mean:
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Paying full price at the pharmacy until a drug plan starts.
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A permanent Part D late enrollment penalty if you go too long without drug coverage.
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Paying Original Medicare’s deductibles and 20% coinsurance yourself until a Medigap plan starts.
If you are leaning toward a Medigap plan, apply before December 31 so it can start the day your Aetna plan ends.
What Steps Should You Take Today?
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Find your Aetna non-renewal letter and keep it with your Medicare card.
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Update your medication list with each drug, dosage, how often you fill it, and your pharmacy.
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List your doctors and hospitals, including specialists and any providers in Massachusetts. In Rockingham County that may include Exeter Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital, or Parkland Medical Center in Derry.
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Decide what matters most to you: the lowest monthly premium, predictable costs, the widest choice of doctors, or extra benefits.
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Book a review before November fills up, so you can compare both paths side by side.
Where Does Insurance Planning Fit In?
Losing a plan you didn’t choose to leave is a good moment to step back and look at your whole picture. A sound review starts with your health, your doctors, and your budget, then looks at plans.
If you choose a Medicare Advantage plan, look closely at its hospital copays and yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Some people add a Hospital Indemnity Plan (HIP), which pays a set cash benefit for a covered hospital stay, to help with those costs. If you choose Original Medicare, plan your Medigap application and Part D enrollment together so both start on January 1.
An independent agent can show you the UnitedHealthcare and Humana plans available in your ZIP code alongside Medigap and Part D options, check your doctors and prescriptions against each, and explain the trade-offs in plain language.
What To Do Next
If your Aetna plan is ending, don’t wait until December. Gather your non-renewal letter, your medication list, and your doctor list, and schedule a review this month.
Call Gilman Agency at (800) 927-9326 or email marc@gilmanagency.com. We meet with Rockingham County clients at our Hampstead office or by phone. If you would like a licensed agent to contact you about your Medicare options, please complete our Permission to Contact form.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent [#] organizations which offer [#] products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
This article is for educational purposes only. Benefits, premiums, formularies, provider networks, and eligibility requirements vary by carrier and service area. Always review plan documents before enrolling. Gilman Agency is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
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