Which BCBSTX Medicare Plans Are Ending in 2027?
BCBSTX has confirmed that three categories of Medicare plans won't be offered for 2027: Medicare Advantage, standalone Part D, and Dual Care Plus HMO Special Needs Plans.
| Plan Type | 2027 Status | What Members Should Check |
|---|
| Blue Cross Medicare Advantage | Discontinued | Replacement medical and prescription coverage |
| Blue Cross MedicareRx (PDP) | Discontinued | New Part D prescription drug coverage |
| Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dual Care Plus (HMO SNP) | Discontinued | Replacement coverage and coordination with Medicaid |
| Blue Medicare Supplement | Not included in announced discontinuation | Existing policy terms and renewal information |
Source: BCBSTX Medicare announcement, as reported by KERA News.
Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare as the way you receive most services, while Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare to help pay certain out-of-pocket costs.
BCBSTX hasn't announced that its Medicare Supplement policies are ending, so Medigap policyholders should check their own policy information.
How to Tell Whether Your Plan Is Affected
Check the exact plan name on your member ID card, annual notice, or nonrenewal letter, which BCBSTX mailed to affected members before October 2, according to news reports. Medicare Advantage and Part D documents may also list a contract number beginning with H or S. If you can't identify your plan, call the number on your member ID card before making changes.
What Happens to Your Coverage on January 1, 2027?
Losing your plan doesn't mean losing Medicare eligibility, but it can change how you get medical care, prescription coverage, and extra benefits.
Affected BCBSTX coverage is scheduled to end December 31, 2026.
If You Have a Medicare Advantage Plan
If your plan isn't renewed and you don't enroll in another Medicare Advantage plan, you generally return to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).
You may need separate drug coverage, and dental, vision, hearing, and other extras may no longer be available.
Original Medicare also lacks the annual out-of-pocket limit that Medicare Advantage plans must have.
If You Have a Standalone Part D Plan
Your Original Medicare medical coverage generally stays the same, but you'll need new drug coverage for 2027.
Going without creditable drug coverage could leave you paying full price and may lead to a Part D late enrollment penalty later.
Will You Be Moved to Another Plan Automatically?
Some discontinuations include approved transfers into replacement plans, and reporting from The Dallas Morning News discusses whether some members could be moved to HealthSpring plans.
Don't assume that applies to you. Your nonrenewal notice should say whether a replacement is offered and what happens if you take no action.
Important
If your notice names a replacement plan, compare its benefits, costs, network, and covered medications before assuming it matches your current coverage.
What Are Your Medicare Coverage Options for 2027?
The best fit depends on your doctors, prescriptions, budget, and eligibility.
1. Another Medicare Advantage Plan
You can enroll in another Medicare Advantage plan available in your service area if you meet its eligibility requirements.
Networks differ even when advertised benefits look similar, so confirm your doctors, hospitals, and medications are covered, and compare premiums, out-of-pocket limits, and referral rules.
2. Original Medicare and Part D
Original Medicare generally lets you see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, with no network, but confirm each provider accepts assignment.
It leaves you responsible for deductibles and coinsurance with no annual out-of-pocket limit, so many people add Medigap.
3. Original Medicare, Medigap, and Part D
Medigap helps pay certain out-of-pocket costs, but eligibility to buy it is separate from eligibility to leave Medicare Advantage, as the Medigap section below explains.
4. Another Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan
If you have Dual Care Plus, you may qualify for another Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP).
Verify that the replacement accepts your level of Medicaid eligibility and coordinates with your Medicaid benefits.
When Do Affected Members Need to Enroll?
Two enrollment periods matter: Annual Enrollment, and the Special Enrollment Period for people whose plans aren't renewed.
October 15–December 7, 2026: Annual Enrollment Period
Choosing replacement coverage by December 7 is usually the simplest way to get a January 1, 2027, effective date.
Confirm your enrollment was accepted and when your new coverage begins.
December 8, 2026–February 28, 2027: Nonrenewal Special Enrollment Period
Medicare provides a Special Enrollment Period for people whose Medicare Advantage or Part D contracts aren't renewed, running from December 8 through the last day of February, which is February 28, 2027.
The effective date generally depends on when your request is received:
| Enrollment Request Received | General Effective Date |
|---|
| December 8–31, 2026 | January 1, 2027 |
| January 2027 | February 1, 2027 |
| February 2027 | March 1, 2027 |
These dates apply to qualifying nonrenewals, and other plan terminations may follow different rules.
Why Waiting Matters
The extra time protects you from missing the December 7 deadline, but waiting until January or February can leave you in unintended coverage for part of 2027, especially for prescriptions and out-of-pocket costs.
Can You Get a Medicare Supplement Without Medical Underwriting?
If you're losing your BCBSTX Medicare Advantage plan because it's being discontinued, you may have a federal guaranteed-issue right to buy a Medigap policy.
For the policies the protection covers, an insurer generally can't reject you or charge more because of your health.
When Does the Guaranteed-Issue Window Open?
People whose Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare or stops covering their area can qualify when they return to Original Medicare.
The application window generally begins 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends and continues until 63 days after it ends.
For coverage ending December 31, 2026, the federal window generally begins November 1. Confirm your individual application deadline and keep your nonrenewal notice.
These rights are separate from the Special Enrollment Period and generally require returning to Original Medicare, since you can't use Medigap with a Medicare Advantage plan.
Medigap Rules in Texas
Texas adds requirements for which Medigap policies must be available under guaranteed issue.
According to the Texas Department of Insurance's Medicare Supplement guide, the available plan letters generally depend on your age, Medicare eligibility, and circumstances.
For people 65 or older, they depend in part on whether you first became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
People under 65 who qualify for Medicare because of a disability other than ALS or end-stage renal disease have more limited access, generally involving Plan A, and different protections apply to certain beneficiaries with ALS or end-stage renal disease.
So the end of a Medicare Advantage plan doesn't guarantee that every Texas beneficiary can buy any Medigap policy they want.
Protect Your Medigap Rights
- Keep your nonrenewal notice and any correspondence confirming when your coverage ends, since insurers may ask for documentation
- Apply before your Medicare Advantage coverage expires rather than at the deadline, and confirm the effective date matches your return to Original Medicare
- Don't cancel existing coverage until your replacement is confirmed
What Should You Do if Your BCBSTX Plan Is Ending?
Review your coverage and compare options before the end of the year.
- 1Read your nonrenewal notice. Note the exact plan, termination date, and any replacement arrangement.
- 2List your providers. Include your primary care doctor, specialists, and hospitals.
- 3Review your prescriptions. Record names, dosages, and preferred pharmacies to compare costs.
- 4Compare 2027 plans. Look beyond premiums to deductibles, copayments, and networks.
- 5Check your deadlines. Confirm the nonrenewal Special Enrollment Period and any Medigap guaranteed-issue window.
- 6Confirm your replacement coverage. Keep your confirmation and verify the effective date.
If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, talk to your Medicaid program or benefits counselor before changing coverage. You can compare plans with the official Medicare Plan Finder.
Why Is BCBSTX Discontinuing These Medicare Plans?
In a statement provided to FOX 4 Dallas, BCBSTX said the change follows its annual evaluation of its Medicare products, and the statement doesn't include a detailed financial explanation.
The decision is part of a broader market shift. KFF's analysis of 2027 Medicare Advantage plan availability found that the average number of Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan options nationwide fell from 32 in 2026 to 28 in 2027, and that Texas saw the largest statewide reduction, with nine fewer options on average.
Bottom Line
If you have a BCBSTX Medicare Advantage, MedicareRx, or Dual Care Plus plan, your coverage is scheduled to change for 2027, and you may need new medical or prescription drug coverage even though your Medicare eligibility continues.
Review your notice, compare options by December 7, and look into Medigap guaranteed-issue rights before their separate deadline expires. For questions, contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or the Texas Department of Insurance.
