As noted in our earlier article: "Overall more 2016 Medicare Advantage plan choices: Medicare Advantage landscape changes 2013 to 2016", the total number of 2016 Medicare Advantage plans will increase slightly across the country with 4% more Medicare Advantage plans offered in 2016.  However, when viewed in detail, many 2015 Medicare Advantage plans will be terminated or merged into other 2016 plans and many counties will see significant changes in their Medicare Advantage plan landscape.

As an example, the county with the largest number of Medicare Advantage plans no longer offered in 2016 is Richmond County, New York.  Twenty (20) of the 81 Medicare Advantage plans that are currently offered in 2015 will no longer be available.  On the positive side, Richmond County will also see the introduction of 25 new Medicare Advantage plans for a net total of 86 Medicare Advantage plans available in 2016.

The counties in the chart below will have the most Medicare beneficiaries impacted by Medicare Advantage plan changes.


The Impact of Medicare Advantage plan changes on a State Level
The States impacted hardest by Medicare Advantage plan terminations and crosswalks can be measured in different ways.  ("Crosswalk" means the Medicare plan will be terminated and members of the terminated plan will be automatically switched to a different plan unless they actively enroll in a new plan.)

From one perspective, the State of Texas has the largest number of members affected by Medicare Advantage plan terminations and crosswalks.  There are 203,967 members currently enrolled in Texas Medicare Advantage plans that will not renew next year. 

On the other hand, Puerto Rico has the largest reach affected.  There are 1,170 plan/county combinations in Puerto Rico that will be affected by terminations and crosswalks.

Finally, the State of New York has the largest number of Medicare Advantage plans (unique plans without regard  to number of counties they serve) that will not be renewing.  Sixty-eight New York Medicare advantage plans will not longer be available.  Some members will be crosswalked and other will simply not have coverage unless they enroll in a new plan.


The Impact of Medicare Advantage plan changes on a County Level
As a county-level example, in Miami-Dade County, Florida, there are currently 71 Medicare Advantage plans of which six (6) plans will be terminated in 2016 and an additional six (6) plans will be “crosswalked” or merged into another 2016 Medicare Advantage plan.  Miami-Dade County will also see the introduction of 10 new Medicare Advantage plans for a total of 69 Medicare Advantage plans in 2016.

The net loss of two (2) plans in this county, does not really show the impact on the 30,350 Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in the 12 Medicare Advantage plans that will not exist in 2016.

Bottom Line:  Please check to be sure that your Medicare Advantage plan is being offered in 2016.  When in doubt, please call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 and speak with a Medicare representative about Medicare plans that are available in your Service Area.

You can see more 2016 Medicare Part D plan changes using our MA-Compare tool found here: MA-Compare.com/2016 or Browse Medicare Advantage or Part D plans by state and county.