Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Justice and Department of Safety are providing an update on the state’s vehicle inspection program following a federal court order issued on January 27, 2026:

• The federal court has ordered a continuation of the state vehicle inspection program. The State intends to appeal this court order.  
• In the interim, due to the public’s reasonable expectation that the program was ending on January 31, 2026, the Department of Safety is extending the deadline to obtain a state inspection to April 10, 2026, for any vehicle with an inspection that expires prior to March 2026.
• A request to extend a contract to continue operation of the program is anticipated to be considered by the Executive Council in the near future.
• Further guidance will be provided as this situation continues to develop. 

Under state law passed last year, New Hampshire’s required vehicle inspection program was scheduled to end on January 31, 2026. However, before that change took effect, a federal court ordered the State to keep the inspection program in place for now. As a result, the vehicle inspection program will continue after January 31, 2026.

The State disagrees with the court’s preliminary injunction, plans to appeal the court’s decision, and will seek to pause the ruling while the appeal is underway. In addition, future legislative action or court developments could change the status of the inspection program.

We understand that these changes may be confusing or frustrating for New Hampshire drivers. If there are any updates, the State will share new guidance at www.dmv.nh.gov and will work to provide additional flexibility where appropriate.

https://www.doj.nh.gov/news-and-media/public-guidance-vehicle-inspection-program-status

The New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) will host a public town hall on Saturday, December 6, from 12-1:30 p.m. at Claremont Savings Bank Community Center 152 South St, Claremont, NH 03743 to address questions regarding recent changes to Medicare Advantage plans in New Hampshire. Insurance Commissioner DJ Bettencourt will lead the discussion, joined by members of the state’s insurance industry.

The NHID does not regulate Medicare Advantage plans, which are overseen at the federal level. However, due to significant consumer disruption this year—and because organizations such as the Aging and Disability Resource Center, SHIP, and local insurance producers are operating at maximum capacity—the Department is offering this town hall as an additional informational resource to help Granite Staters understand their options.

This year’s disruption has triggered a Special Enrollment Period that extends beyond the normal end of the Medicare Open Enrollment Period. The town hall will review what this means for affected consumers, what options may be available, and where individuals can seek official guidance.

Please note that even if you do not represent Claremont, we’ve included all our representatives and Senators on this invitation that represent towns in Sullivan County as it has been hit particularly hard in terms of plan offerings available to seniors for the upcoming plan year.

We hope you will join Commissioner Bettencourt at this event but would also ask that you share this information widely with your constituents, especially seniors in your community affected by these changes.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you!

Jennifer

Jennifer L. Smith

Legislative Director

New Hampshire Insurance Department

21 South Fruit Street, Suite 14

Concord, NH 03301

*On behalf of Commissioner Bettencourt*

Dear Legislative Partners and Friends,

As I have been cautioning for some time, the Medicare Advantage market is undergoing significant disruption that will impact many New Hampshire seniors. The full scope of this disruption is now clear, and yesterday afternoon the Insurance Department issued a statewide press release (https://www.insurance.nh.gov/news-and-media/new-hampshire-insurance-department-advises-consumers-prepare-2026-medicare-advantage) outlining the changes on a county-by-county basis.

The first wave of disruption occurred last fall, when Medicare Advantage carriers began reducing or eliminating plan offerings nationwide. Here in New Hampshire, more than 44,000 Granite Staters, over half of our state’s Medicare Advantage population, were affected. Many of you heard directly from anxious and understandably confused constituents at that time. Unfortunately, the disruption ahead will be larger in scope, impacting an estimated 77,000 New Hampshire seniors in 2026.

Two longstanding carriers—Anthem and Martin’s Point—will no longer offer Medicare Advantage plans in the state. In most counties, Aetna will also exit the market. Other carriers are reducing the number of plans they will offer or narrowing service areas, leaving fewer choices for beneficiaries. The effects will vary by county. For example:

• In Coös County, WellSense and Humana will be the only carriers remaining.

• In Carroll County, Humana will discontinue one of its plans, while Aetna withdraws entirely.

• In Belknap, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford Counties, Humana will introduce new plan options.

Even in counties where carriers remain, plan designs and provider networks will shift, requiring seniors to carefully review their choices.

Thanks to legislation you passed earlier this year, the Department now has greater visibility into carrier decisions. This has allowed us to put in place a robust communications and outreach strategy to ensure timely, accurate, and helpful information reaches consumers. Attached you will find a Frequently Asked Questions document designed to assist both constituents and legislators. It explains the causes of these disruptions, the steps seniors should take, the options available to them, and how they can obtain help.

Importantly, affected seniors will have a Special Enrollment Period to choose another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare. Those returning to Original Medicare may also enroll in a standalone Part D prescription drug plan and, in most cases, exercise their guaranteed right to purchase a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy without medical underwriting.

While we have worked hard to anticipate the major issues, my team and I remain at your disposal as a direct resource. If your constituents reach out to you, please do not hesitate to direct them to us. We are committed to helping every Granite Stater navigate this transition with as little disruption as possible.

This will be a difficult stretch for many seniors, but with your partnership, we will work tirelessly to ensure that no one experiences a gap in coverage or a disruption in care.

Thank you, as always, for your steadfast support and collaboration on behalf of the people we serve.

DJ Bettencourt

Commissioner

New Hampshire Insurance Department