Medicare AEP Checklist for Volusia County: 2027 Plan Exits and What to Compare

Hi, I’m Nathan Curry, a licensed independent Medicare and ACA broker with HealthBrokerFL.com (USA Benefits Group) in South Daytona. Every fall I sit down with folks from Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach, and all over Volusia County to go through their plans. This is the same checklist I use in those meetings. There’s no cost to you for my help, because the insurance company pays us.

If you’re brand new to Medicare and haven’t picked your first plan yet, this page isn’t really for you. Start with my turning 65 guide for Volusia County instead.

This is general education, not personal insurance, tax, or legal advice. Plans, networks, drug lists, and costs vary by ZIP code and change every year. For official rules, visit Medicare.gov.

Important: plans leaving for 2027 (Humana, Health First, Cigna)

Before we get to the checklist, here’s what I most want people to know this year. These plans are not coming back for 2027:

• Humana Full Access Giveback H7617-111 (PPO) and Humana Full Access Giveback H5216-393 (PPO) are exiting the market. If you’re on either of those plan codes, you need to find a new plan.
• Health First Medicare Advantage plans are exiting every county except Flagler, Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River. If you have a Health First plan and live in any other county, you need a new plan.
• Cigna Preferred Savings is exiting the market. Cigna, now HealthSpring, will have only one core plan for 2027.

Carriers sign their Medicare Advantage contracts one calendar year at a time. When a carrier drops a plan or pulls it out of some counties, it’s called a service area reduction. It has nothing to do with your health or the claims you filed.

Not sure which plan you have? Look at your member ID card and the letters your plan has mailed you. The plan name and plan code (it starts with a letter and numbers, like H7617) are usually printed there. If you still can’t tell, call me and I’ll help you look it up.

Is your plan on this list? I wrote a full guide just for you: what to do if your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving in 2027. It covers your special enrollment period, your guaranteed issue Medigap rights, and what to bring to your review.

If you’re a Health First member here in Volusia County: this exit doesn’t apply to your county. You should still read your Annual Notice of Change like everyone else, because every plan can change from year to year.

What to do if your plan is leaving

1. Watch your mail. Plans that are leaving have to send you a nonrenewal letter in the fall. Plans that are staying send an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Don’t toss either one. They tell you exactly what’s happening with your plan.
2. Pick a new plan during AEP, October 15 to December 7. If you choose during AEP, your new coverage usually starts January 1 with no gap.
3. Don’t assume you’ll be moved automatically. If your Medicare Advantage plan ends and you don’t choose a new one, you’ll generally go back to Original Medicare on January 1. That doesn’t include drug coverage unless you also join a Part D plan.
4. Call me or book a time. Call or text 386-401-5644 or use the booking button below. Bring your nonrenewal letter, your medication list, and your doctors, and we’ll compare what’s available for your ZIP code.

AEP dates and what you can change (fall 2026 for 2027 coverage)

Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 to December 7

Florida follows the federal Medicare calendar. AEP runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage in 2027. Starting October 1, you can usually look at next year’s plans on Medicare Plan Finder before enrollment opens. Please don’t wait until the last night. Your enrollment has to be in by December 7.

What you can change during AEP

In plain English, during AEP you can generally:

• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
• Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare
• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
• Join, drop, or switch a Part D drug plan

Medicare.gov has the full list of rules on its open enrollment page.

When your new coverage starts

Changes made during AEP usually take effect January 1, 2027. If your situation is unusual (for example, you just became eligible for Medicare), confirm your start date with me or Medicare.gov.

AEP is not the same as the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

There’s a separate, smaller window from January 1 to March 31 for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage plan. It allows fewer changes than AEP and it has its own rules. I wrote a whole guide on it: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment in Florida. And neither one is the same as ACA Marketplace open enrollment, which is for people under 65.

Step 1: Pull out your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)

Your plan mails the ANOC every fall. It spells out what’s changing next year. Keep it with your Evidence of Coverage.

What usually changes from year to year

• Monthly premium
• Copays, coinsurance, and deductibles
• The drug list (formulary) and drug tiers
• The doctor and hospital network
• Extras like dental, vision, hearing, and over the counter allowances
• The maximum out of pocket limit

Why doing nothing still counts as a decision

If your plan is still offered in 2027 and you do nothing, you usually stay in it under the new terms. That can be totally fine. I just want you to know what those terms are before January, not after. (And if your plan is one of the ones leaving, doing nothing isn’t an option. See the section above.)

Step 2: Check your prescriptions and pharmacy

Drug coverage is where I see the most surprises in January.

List every prescription

Write down each medication, the dose, and how often you take it. A photo of your pill bottles works too.

Check the 2027 rules for each drug

For every drug, check the 2027 tier and whether it needs prior authorization, step therapy, or has quantity limits. A drug that was easy to get this year may have new rules next year.

Check your pharmacy

Make sure the pharmacy you actually use is a preferred pharmacy for the plan in your ZIP code. Ask about mail order too.

Get real numbers, not guesses

I don’t quote drug prices from memory, and you shouldn’t trust anyone who does. Use Plan Finder or the plan’s documents, or let me run your list for you.

Step 3: Confirm your primary doctor and specialists

Your primary care doctor

Confirm your PCP will take the plan in 2027. Last year’s directory isn’t good enough. A quick call to the office helps.

Specialists you can’t lose

Cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, whoever it is for you. Put them on the list and check each one.

HMO vs PPO in plain English

With an HMO, you usually stay in network and often need a referral to see a specialist. With a PPO, you can usually see doctors outside the network too, but it often costs more. Neither is better for everyone. It depends on your doctors and how you use care.

Step 4: Check hospitals and facilities in Volusia (verify, don’t assume)

People here often ask me to check places like Halifax Health and AdventHealth campuses in Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Deltona, and New Smyrna Beach, along with the imaging centers and outpatient offices they use. Treat those names as a checklist to verify for your plan and your ZIP code. I’m not telling you any hospital is in or out of any plan. That changes by plan and by year, and it has to be checked.

Why your ZIP code matters

Medicare Advantage plans are built by county and service area. A plan your neighbor in Ormond Beach loves might look different for you in Deltona. Always compare using your own ZIP code.

Step 5: Extras like dental, vision, hearing, OTC, and fitness

Extras change every year

Many Medicare Advantage plans include extras like dental, vision, hearing, over the counter allowances, or a fitness program. But extras vary by plan and by year. Don’t assume last year’s allowance is coming back.

When a separate dental plan might make sense

If dental is a big deal for you, a standalone policy may be worth a look. Here’s my overview of dental insurance types and coverage.

Step 6: Premiums, copays, and your maximum out of pocket

Look at the whole cost picture

A low premium isn’t the whole story. Add up the premium, the copays you expect based on how often you see doctors, and the maximum out of pocket (MOOP) in case you have a rough year.

Check the real numbers for 2027

Premiums and MOOP amounts vary by plan and change every year. Medicare sets the ceiling: for 2027, a plan’s in-network maximum out of pocket can’t be higher than $9,850 ($14,800 combined in and out of network on a PPO), and many plans set it lower. On the drug side, the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027, and the standard deductible can be up to $700. Check the plan’s Summary of Benefits or Plan Finder, or have me pull them up side by side.

Step 7: Compare your current plan with the alternatives, side by side

Same carrier vs other options in your ZIP

Sometimes the best move is staying put. Sometimes another plan fits your doctors and drugs better. The only way to know is to compare your current plan’s 2027 terms with the other plans available where you live.

On Original Medicare? Check your Part D

If you have Original Medicare with a Medigap plan, AEP is still your time to review your Part D drug plan.

Thinking about leaving Medicare Advantage for a Supplement?

You can go back to Original Medicare during AEP. But in Florida, getting a Medigap policy later may mean answering health questions unless you have a guaranteed issue right, so it’s not a sure thing. Read Florida rules for switching from Medicare Advantage to a Supplement and my Medicare Advantage vs Supplement guide before you make that move.

Use Plan Finder and a licensed review

Medicare Plan Finder is a great free tool. A licensed independent broker can help you check the details it doesn’t catch, like your specific doctors and how you actually use care.

Face to face AEP reviews in Volusia and Daytona

What to bring

• Your ANOC or nonrenewal letter
• Your medication list (name, dose, how often)
• Your doctors and specialists
• The pharmacy you use
• Your Medicare card and current plan ID card

Independent broker vs a single carrier call center

A carrier’s call center can only tell you about its own plans. As an independent broker, I compare plans from the carriers I’m appointed with, and I’ll tell you honestly if your current plan still fits. You can learn more about our licensed local team or read more about us.

No cost to you

USA Benefits Group (HealthBrokerFL) is an independent agency at 913 Big Tree Road in South Daytona. I have been licensed for 14 years, and our agency is appointed with 80+ insurance companies and licensed in 30+ states. There is no cost to you for our help. The insurance company pays us, and your premium is the same whether you enroll with us or on your own.

FAQs

When is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period in Florida?

Florida follows the federal calendar. AEP runs October 15 to December 7 each year. In fall 2026, that window is for 2027 coverage, and changes you make usually start January 1, 2027. You can usually preview next year’s plans on Medicare Plan Finder starting October 1. Your enrollment needs to be in by December 7.

What can I change during Medicare open enrollment?

During AEP you can generally switch Medicare Advantage plans, move from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare, move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, and join, drop, or switch a Part D drug plan. Medicare.gov has the full rules. If you’re thinking about a Medigap policy, check the underwriting rules first.

My Medicare Advantage plan is leaving for 2027. What do I do?

Watch for your plan’s nonrenewal letter, then choose a new plan during AEP, October 15 to December 7, so coverage starts January 1 with no gap. If you don’t choose, you’ll generally go back to Original Medicare without drug coverage. For 2027, that includes Humana Full Access Giveback H7617-111 and H5216-393 (PPO) and Cigna Preferred Savings. Call 386-401-5644 for help.

Is Health First leaving Volusia County for 2027?

No. Health First Medicare Advantage plans are exiting every county except Flagler, Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River. If you have Health First and live in Volusia, the exit doesn’t apply to your county, but read your Annual Notice of Change because benefits can still change. If you have Health First in any other county, you need a new plan.

If I do nothing during AEP, what happens to my plan?

If your plan is still offered in 2027, you usually stay in it under next year’s premiums, network, drug list, and benefits. Your ANOC shows what’s changing. If your plan is leaving, doing nothing generally means going back to Original Medicare on January 1, without drug coverage unless you add a Part D plan.

What’s the difference between AEP and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?

AEP runs October 15 to December 7 and lets you make most Medicare Advantage and Part D changes for next year. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31, is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan, and allows fewer changes. They’re two separate windows with separate rules.

How do I check if my doctors and hospitals in Daytona and Volusia are in network for 2027?

Use Medicare Plan Finder and the plan’s 2027 provider directory, then call your doctor’s office to confirm. Treat places like Halifax Health or AdventHealth as names to check, not as a promise either way. I can check your whole list of doctors and facilities for your ZIP code in one appointment.

Does using a Medicare broker cost me anything?

No. There is no cost to you for my help. The insurance company pays us, and your premium is set by the insurance company, so it’s the same whether you enroll with me or on your own.

Want to see everything we help with? Visit our Medicare insurance plans page or the Medicare FAQ.

Disclaimer

This article is for general education only. It doesn’t recommend a specific plan, carrier, or enrollment choice for anyone. Plan availability, benefits, premiums, networks, drug lists, extras, and maximum out of pocket limits vary by location and plan year and can change. Nathan Curry and HealthBrokerFL.com (USA Benefits Group) are an independent insurance agency licensed in Florida and 30+ states. You can confirm license status with the Florida Department of Financial Services. We are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program, CMS, or HealthCare.gov.

We represent all of the Medicare plan organizations available in Volusia County. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.