New York Medicare help
Medicare basics and the New York-specific places to get free, unbiased help.
Medicare Open Enrollment is happening now
You have until December 7th. Enter your ZIP to see the New York plans we offer, or call and a licensed agent will go over them and enroll you. Calling is free, and you are never required to enroll.
When you can enroll
- Initial Enrollment Period. A seven-month window around your 65th birthday (three months before, the month of, and three months after).
- Annual Enrollment Period. October 15 to December 7 each year, to join, switch or leave a Medicare Advantage or drug plan for the next year.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. January 1 to March 31 for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
New York Medicare open enrollment 2027: dates, plans leaving and what to do now →
Your county decides the plans you can choose
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are offered by service area, which is usually by county. Two New York neighbors a county apart can have different plans, premiums and networks. Look up your county and then call to compare what is offered where you live.
Medicare plans leaving New York for 2027
84 plans from 13 companies are listed in at least one New York county for 2026 but not for 2027, covering at least 354,252 people enrolled in county-by-county plans. Find your county to see the exact plans.
| Company | Plans leaving | People enrolled (at least) |
|---|---|---|
| Wellcare / Ambetter (Centene) | 17 | 98,776 |
| Lifetime Healthcare | 15 | 94,582 |
| Humana | 10 | 83,093 |
| Aetna (CVS Health) | 14 | 26,581 |
| MVP Health Care | 3 | 13,488 |
| Highmark Health | 5 | 10,534 |
| Elderplan | 3 | 6,778 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 4 | 6,701 |
| Cigna HealthSpring (HCSC) | 3 (2 leave all of New York) | 4,389 |
| EmblemHealth | 5 | 3,973 |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 3 | 2,706 |
| Independent Health Association | 1 | 2,651 |
| CDS Monarch | 1 | not listed |
Where the most people are affected
- Suffolk County · 25,672
- Erie County · 24,187
- Queens County · 22,689
- Onondaga County · 22,454
- Nassau County · 20,143
- Kings County · 17,896
- New York County · 16,308
- Oneida County · 15,663
- Monroe County · 15,445
- Broome County · 13,054
Want every company and plan ID in one place? See every company with plans ending in New York →
A plan can be listed because it was renumbered or replaced, not only because a company is leaving the state. When the same company keeps other plans there, members are usually moved to a replacement plan. Your plan should send you a notice, and Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) is when you can compare and switch. “People enrolled” is the number enrolled in that plan today (CMS hides counts of 10 or fewer). Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2026 and 2027, and CMS enrollment data from September 2026.
Free Medicare counseling in New York
HIICAP (Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program) (1-800-701-0501) is New York’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Its counselors do not sell insurance, and it is a good second opinion on any plan you are considering.
Important disclosure
We do not offer every plan available in your area. We represent a limited number of organizations, which offer a limited number of products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program to get information on all of your options. New York Health Insurance is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Questions
Do I have to enroll in anything if I call?
No. A call is a conversation about your options. You are never required to enroll.
What if I missed my Initial Enrollment Period?
You may owe a late-enrollment penalty for Part B and Part D, and you may have to wait for a general or annual enrollment period. A licensed agent or your SHIP counselor can look at your specific dates.
Is there help that is not tied to an insurance company in New York?
Yes: HIICAP (Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program) at 1-800-701-0501.
Talk with a licensed agent about New York coverage
Call Lander LLC to go over your options. There is no cost to call or to speak with an agent, and you are never required to enroll in anything.
Call 855-367-1095 Open 8 AM-10 PM Eastern timeReviewed by Richard Lander, licensed insurance agent (NPN 21255551), Lander LLC. Last updated October 3, 2026. This page is educational and is not a quote, an offer of coverage, or legal or tax advice.