*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