Is Blue Cross Leaving Medicare Advantage in 2027?

2027 update (October 27, 2026): Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (an HCSC company) is ending its individual Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plans, its Dual Care Plus HMO special needs plans and its MedicareRx stand-alone Part D plans on December 31, 2026. It will keep offering Medicare Advantage to employers, municipalities and unions. According to Live Insurance News, BCBSTX sold Medicare Advantage in 228 of Texas’s 254 counties in 2026. Affected members should pick new coverage by December 7, 2026, and MedicareRx members also need a new Part D plan to avoid a coverage gap. See Medicare Advantage plans in Texas for 2027.

Good to know: your Annual Notice of Change or non-renewal letter tells you exactly what is happening with your plan. You can also read Blue Cross Medicare Advantage reviews to see how members rate them.

Blue Cross is not leaving Medicare Advantage. It is made up of independent companies, and most will still offer plans in 2027.

HCSC (Blue Cross of Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Montana) is shrinking its Medicare Advantage footprint from 948 counties to about 478 for 2027.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is ending its individual Medicare Advantage, Dual Care Plus and MedicareRx plans on December 31, 2026. Group retiree plans through employers, municipalities and unions continue.

HCSC is exiting Connecticut, Kansas, Montana, New York, Oregon, Utah and Washington, D.C., mostly markets it took over from Cigna.

Anthem (Elevance Health) is pulling standard plans from 56 counties and exiting South Carolina.

Some Blues are expanding. Blue Cross of Idaho is growing from 24 to 35 counties.

If your plan is ending, you get a non-renewal letter, a Special Enrollment Period and coverage through December 31, 2026.

Key Takeaway

For 2027, the Blue Cross changes that matter most are at HCSC, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, and Anthem. In most other states, the local Blue Cross company is continuing its Medicare Advantage plans.

Key Takeaway

Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an alternative to Original Medicare offered by private companies approved by Medicare.

Key Takeaway

If your Blue Cross company is leaving your county or state, your coverage continues through December 31, 2026, and you can pick a new plan during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7.

Watch for: if you do nothing, you will return to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027, without drug coverage.

Guaranteed issue right: when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area, you generally can buy certain Medigap plans without health questions. That right generally ends 63 days after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends.

Key Takeaway

Whether your Blue Cross plan is continuing or ending, 2027 is a year to compare rather than auto-renew.

The Bottom Line

Blue Cross is not leaving Medicare Advantage, but some Blue Cross companies are cutting back for 2027, especially HCSC and Anthem. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is ending its individual plans entirely. If your plan is changing or ending, use Annual Enrollment, open now through December 7, 2026, to compare your options and pick the plan that fits your doctors, drugs and budget.

➤ Is Blue Cross leaving Medicare Advantage in 2027?

No. Blue Cross is made up of independent Blue Cross Blue Shield companies, and most will keep offering Medicare Advantage plans in 2027. However, some are cutting back. HCSC is shrinking from 948 counties to about 478, and Anthem is leaving 56 counties and South Carolina. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is ending its individual Medicare Advantage plans on December 31, 2026.

➤ Which states are Blue Cross companies leaving for 2027?

HCSC is exiting Medicare Advantage in Connecticut, Kansas, Montana, New York, Oregon, Utah and Washington, D.C., many of them markets it took over from Cigna. Anthem is exiting South Carolina. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is also ending its individual Medicare Advantage and MedicareRx plans for 2027, while keeping group retiree plans. Check your non-renewal letter or Annual Notice of Change to see if your plan is affected.

➤ What happens if my Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plan is ending?

Your coverage continues through December 31, 2026. You can choose a new plan during Annual Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) or your Special Enrollment Period. If you do nothing, you will return to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027, without drug coverage.

➤ Can I switch to a Medicare Supplement plan if my Blue Cross plan ends?

Yes. If your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area, you generally have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans without health questions, until 63 days after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends. You will also need a separate Part D drug plan.

➤ Are any Blue Cross companies expanding Medicare Advantage for 2027?

Yes. Blue Cross of Idaho is expanding its Medicare Advantage plans from 24 counties to 35 for 2027. Most other Blue Cross companies are continuing their plans, though benefits and costs may change.