Doctors and hospitals can leave Medicare Advantage networks each year. Here’s how Southwest Florida residents can check before Annual Enrollment ends December 7.
It might be, and now is the time to find out. Doctors and hospitals can leave a Medicare Advantage plan’s network from one year to the next. If you don’t check during Annual Enrollment (October 15 to December 7), you may not find out until you’re at the front desk in January.
Why this matters in Southwest Florida this year
Lee Health has announced it will end its contracts with UnitedHealthcare on December 31, 2026. Starting January 1, 2027, Lee Health hospitals and doctors will be out of network for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members. That includes Lee Memorial Hospital, Cape Coral Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, and HealthPark Medical Center.
UnitedHealthcare has said it hopes to keep negotiating, so watch for updates. But if you rely on Lee Health, don’t wait to see how it turns out. Plan for January 1 now.
This isn’t only a Lee Health story. Every year, some doctors, specialists, and hospitals change which plans they accept. It’s worth checking no matter which plan you have.
Who this does (and doesn’t) affect
- Medicare Advantage plans (HMOs and PPOs) use provider networks. Network changes can affect you.
- Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) isn’t tied to a network. You can see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, so these changes don’t affect you the same way.
How to check in 5 steps
- Read your Annual Notice of Change. Your plan mailed it by September 30. It lists what’s changing for 2027.
- Look up each doctor in the 2027 provider directory. Make sure you’re looking at 2027, not 2026.
- Call your doctors’ offices. Ask: “Will you be in network with my plan, by name, in 2027?” The front desk often knows first.
- Check your hospital, too. Your doctor may stay in network while the hospital they use does not.
- Don’t cancel appointments yet. Lee Health has asked patients to keep scheduled appointments and review their options before canceling any 2027 care.
What if my doctor is leaving my plan?
You have options:
- Switch plans during Annual Enrollment (October 15 to December 7). Pick a plan your doctors and hospital are in. Your new plan starts January 1.
- Use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31). If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change during this window.
- Ask about continuity of care. If you’re in the middle of treatment, your plan may let you keep seeing your provider at in-network rates for a limited time. Call your plan and ask.
Common questions
Can my doctor leave my plan in the middle of the year? Yes. Networks can change during the year, too. That’s why it’s worth checking more than once.
Is it too late to change plans for 2027? No. Annual Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. Changes start January 1.
Does it cost anything to get help comparing plans? No. There’s no cost to you to work with me as your broker.
Let’s check your doctors together
I’m Jessie Navalta, an independent Medicare broker at TrustHaven Insurance Agency in North Fort Myers. I’ll look up your doctors, hospital, and prescriptions across the plans I represent and walk you through your options in plain language. Call 239-438-4435 or email info@trusthaveninsurance.com.