Two of the five companies offering Medicare Advantage plans in New Hampshire are leaving and the others are sharply cutting their offerings for 2026 as part of “unprecedented” changes to the national health-care system for seniors.
Anthem and Martin’s Point have told the New Hampshire Insurance Department they will no longer offer individual Medicare Advantage plans in New Hampshire after Jan. 1, while Aetna will no longer offer plans in most counties. Other insurers are scaling back the number of plans they will offer next year or are shrinking their service areas.
These changes will impact approximately 77,000 state residents who pay for private Medicare Advantage plans to supplement standard Medicare coverage, which is available to people over age 64.
Many states are seeing a similar reduction in choices for programs to supplement basic Medicare coverage.
“While these withdrawals and reductions will create challenges and uncertainty for many Granite Staters, New Hampshire’s market will continue to offer meaningful plan options and strong consumer protections,” Insurance Commissioner DJ Bettencourt said in a press release.
These departures particularly hit rural counties. In Coos County, WellSense and Humana will be the only carriers, and Aetna is leaving all counties except Hillsborough and Rockingham in the state’s southeast corner. Even in counties with a more carriers, the number of choices will shrink.
WellSense and Humana will continue to offer Medicare Advantage plans statewide, although plan availability and types will differ by region. Humana is introducing new plan options in multiple counties, expanding choices for some beneficiaries.
The Medicare enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 for plans that begin Jan. 1. People who have lost their Advantage carrier entirely have until early February to decide on a replacement, although in that case, they would be without coverage following the start of the year.
Affected enrollees can choose a different Medicare Advantage plan or return to original Medicare, with or without a standalone Part D prescription drug plan or, in most cases, a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy available without medical underwriting.
“Consumers should carefully review their options, confirm that their providers and prescriptions are covered, and seek free, unbiased help from the Insurance Department, SHIP or another legitimate resource,” said Deputy Insurance Commissioner Keith Nyhan. “While the scale of change this year is unprecedented, Granite Staters are not alone — our team is here to help them make informed decisions and maintain uninterrupted access to care.”
The department and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) are available to assist consumers at no cost. Beneficiaries can compare plans using Medicare’s Plan Finder tool at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. For additional guidance, consumers may contact the NHID’s Consumer Services Unit at 1-800-852-3416 or consumerservices@ins.nh.gov.