By Marc Gilman
Call (800) 927-9326 | Email marc@gilmanagency.com
Medicare Annual Enrollment opens today, October 15, and runs through December 7, 2026. Any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027.
This year matters more than most in New Hampshire. Aetna (CVS Health) and WellSense will stop offering Medicare Advantage plans in the state on January 1, affecting more than 14,200 people, according to the New Hampshire Insurance Department. Even if your plan is staying, its premiums, networks, drug lists, and extra benefits may have changed. Here is what to do today if you live in Manchester, Bedford, or elsewhere in Hillsborough County.
Key Takeaways
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Medicare Annual Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.
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Aetna and WellSense are leaving New Hampshire’s Medicare Advantage market for 2027. Three organizations will offer 20 plans statewide: Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and Devoted Health.
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If your plan is ending and you don’t choose a new one, you will be moved to Original Medicare on January 1.
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If your plan is ending, you also have a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 through the last day of February, plus a chance to buy a Medicare Supplement without medical underwriting.
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Start today with your Annual Notice of Change, your medication list, and your doctors. There is no reason to make a rushed decision on day one.
What Changed in New Hampshire for 2027?
New Hampshire’s Medicare Advantage market is smaller again this year. Aetna and WellSense will no longer offer Medicare Advantage plans as of January 1, 2027. That follows Anthem and Martin’s Point leaving the state for 2026.
For 2027, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and Devoted Health will offer 20 plans across the state. Devoted is new to New Hampshire and covers only parts of the state. Eight of the state’s 10 counties will have at least two Medicare Advantage organizations. Coos County will have none.
In Hillsborough County, you still have choices, but the plan you had in 2026 may not be available or may look different. Check before you assume it renews.
What Can You Change During Annual Enrollment?
Annual Enrollment is open to everyone with Medicare, not just people turning 65. Between now and December 7, you can:
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Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or back again.
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Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
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Join, switch, or drop a Part D prescription drug plan.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans follow different rules. Annual Enrollment does not give you a right to buy one without health questions, except in certain situations, such as when your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving.
What Steps Should You Take Today?
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Find your Annual Notice of Change. Your plan was required to send it by September 30. It lists every change to your premium, copays, drug coverage, and network for 2027. If you can’t find it, call the number on your member card.
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Check whether your plan is ending. If you are in a Aetna or WellSense Medicare Advantage plan, you should have received a non-renewal letter. Read it carefully and keep it, since it confirms your special enrollment rights.
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Update your medication list. Write down each drug, its dosage, how often you fill it, and the pharmacy you use. Drug lists and pharmacy networks change every year.
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Confirm your doctors and hospitals. Manchester is served by Elliot Health System, Catholic Medical Center (HCA), and Dartmouth Health clinics. Confirm which ones each plan you are considering includes in network, along with your specialists.
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Look at total costs, not just the premium. Compare deductibles, copays, the out-of-pocket maximum, and your estimated drug costs for the full year.
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Note any income changes. A change in income can affect the income-related amounts some people pay on top of their Part B and Part D premiums.
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Book your review now. Appointments fill quickly in November and early December. Starting today gives you time to compare options without pressure.
What If Your Medicare Advantage Plan Is Leaving?
If your plan is ending, you have more time and more options than most people:
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Pick a new plan during Annual Enrollment. Choose by December 7 and your new coverage starts January 1, with no gap.
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Use your Special Enrollment Period. Because your plan is not renewing, you can also choose a new plan from December 8 through the last day of February.
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Consider Original Medicare with a Medigap plan. When a Medicare Advantage plan leaves, you can buy a Medicare Supplement without medical underwriting during a limited window. Pair it with a Part D drug plan.
If you do nothing, you will be moved to Original Medicare on January 1. You would have no drug plan or Medigap coverage unless you choose them. Going without drug coverage can also lead to a permanent Part D late enrollment penalty, so don’t let this slide past December.
Where Does Insurance Planning Fit In?
The right Medicare choice depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, your budget, and how you want to handle a large medical bill. A good review starts with questions about you, not with a list of plans.
If you choose a Medicare Advantage plan, look closely at its hospital copays and out-of-pocket maximum. Some people pair their plan with a Hospital Indemnity Plan (HIP), which pays a set cash benefit for a covered hospital stay, to help cover those costs. If you are moving to Original Medicare, the timing of your Medigap application and Part D enrollment matters, so plan both together.
An independent agent can walk you through the plans available in your ZIP code, check your doctors and drugs against each one, and explain the trade-offs in plain language.
What To Do Next
Don’t wait until December. Pull out your Annual Notice of Change, make your medication and doctor lists, and schedule a review this month.
Call Gilman Agency at (800) 927-9326 or email marc@gilmanagency.com. We meet in person at our Bedford office at 49 Technology Drive 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 three organizations which offer 20 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.
