Medicare Plan Not Renewing? Triad NC Checklist

First identify the kind of letter

An Annual Notice of Change describes next year's benefits and costs. A nonrenewal notice says coverage won't continue under that contract. A move, contract termination, and nonrenewal can have different enrollment rules. Keep the full letter, including the pages explaining your rights.

A special window doesn't guarantee continuous coverage

For a Medicare contract that isn't renewed, Medicare lists a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 through the last day of February. That window doesn't mean waiting is harmless. Confirm your current coverage end date and replacement coverage start date before making a change. Ask about prescription coverage and any limited Medigap rights that apply to your situation.

Bring a local coverage checklist

For Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, and Burlington residents, start with your home address, doctors, prescriptions, and pharmacy. Verify coverage details for the coming year. This guide doesn't claim that a particular contract is leaving the Triad. Your notice and Medicare's current information determine what applies.

If you do nothing, you land on Original Medicare

When a Medicare Advantage plan's contract ends and you don't join another plan, Medicare puts you on Original Medicare starting January 1. That means Parts A and B only. No drug coverage, no yearly cap on what you pay, none of the extra benefits your old plan had. A stand-alone Part D drug plan needs its own enrollment, and going 63 days or more without drug coverage can add a late enrollment penalty to your premium for as long as you carry Part D. Doing nothing is still a choice, so treat it like one.

Work the window month by month

The Special Enrollment Period runs December 8 through the last day of February. Use December to compare plans with your doctors and prescriptions in front of you. Enrollments made in January or February take effect the first day of the next month, so there is no backdating to guess about. For Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, and Burlington residents, start with your home address, your doctors, your pharmacy, and every prescription you take. Your letter tells you when the old coverage ends. The new plan tells you when the new coverage starts. Get both dates in writing.

Free help reading the letter in North Carolina

You don't have to decode the letter alone. Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program with free, unbiased Medicare counseling, and the counselors don't sell anything. In North Carolina the program is called SHIIP, run through the Department of Insurance, with trained counselors in every county. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE with questions about your rights. Triad residents can ask Christian to walk through the letter too. Either way, keep the full letter and the envelope it came in, since they prove your enrollment rights.

Your records checklist

1. Save the complete notice and envelope.
2. Write down the coverage end date.
3. List doctors, medicines, pharmacy, and home address.
4. Confirm enrollment rights and the effective date before submitting a change.

Common questions

Does a nonrenewal letter mean I lose Medicare itself?

It concerns the coverage described in the letter. Confirm what happens to your health and drug coverage rather than assuming all Medicare ends.

Can Christian help me read the letter?

Triad residents can request an insurance conversation with Christian. You can also review your rights directly with Medicare.

If my plan is not renewing, can I use the special window to join any Medicare Advantage plan?

The Special Enrollment Period runs December 8 through the last day of February. Inside it you can join another Medicare Advantage plan, with or without drug coverage, or return to Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D plan. Coverage starts the first of the month after the plan receives your request.

What if the nonrenewal letter arrived late and my coverage already ended?

The Special Enrollment Period still runs through the last day of February, so move quickly. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or North Carolina's SHIIP program and ask about your options for any months you went uncovered, including drug coverage so you don't rack up a late enrollment penalty.

Sources and current instructions

Check the tax year and any later updates before acting. These are the primary sources used for this guide.

• Medicare: Special Enrollment Periods
• CMS: Part D creditable coverage and late enrollment penalty
• SSA: Medicare premiums and free SHIP counseling help