Texas is losing 68 general Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. These plans were sold somewhere in the state in 2026. However, none of them appear anywhere in the CMS 2027 plan file. As a result, 244 of Texas’s 254 counties lose at least one plan next year.

The impact is large. In September 2026, 197,762 Texans were enrolled in plans that are ending. That count does not include counties where CMS hides small numbers. So the real figure is a little higher.

This guide covers every affected county, every discontinued plan, and every date that matters. Each county name links to its full county-level breakdown. Use it to check your county, see what remains, and plan your next step before December 7, 2026.

Texas Medicare Advantage Changes for 2027 at a Glance

First, here are the statewide numbers. They come from the CMS 2026 and 2027 landscape files and the CMS September 2026 enrollment report.

In short, Texas goes from 259 plans to 214. That is a net loss of 45 plans across the state. Meanwhile, some carriers added new plans in certain counties, which softens the drop locally.

How This Texas Data Was Compiled

Every number here comes from public federal files. The plan lists compare the CMS CY2026 landscape file with the CMS CY2027 landscape file. The 2027 file was last updated on September 22, 2026. Plans are matched by their Contract Plan ID, such as H1278-013.

Member counts come from the CMS Monthly Enrollment by Contract, Plan, State and County report for September 2026. In addition, the CMS 2027 state-by-state fact sheets confirm Texas has 10 stand-alone drug plans for 2027. The county breakdowns were published by the Medicare On Main Data Desk on October 6, 2026, and last updated November 4, 2026.

Key terms used in the tables

• General plan: A Medicare Advantage (MA) or MA-PD plan with the Special Needs Plan indicator set to “No.” Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are not counted.
• Plans gone: The total number of 2026 plans no longer offered in that county for 2027.
• Discontinued: The plan has no row anywhere in the CMS 2027 file. It is ending statewide and nationwide.
• Left the county: The plan still sells in other counties, but not in this one.
• Members on ending plans: September 2026 enrollment in those plans for that county.
• A plus sign (+): At least one ending plan had fewer than 11 members there. CMS suppresses those counts, so the true total is slightly higher.
• Fewer than 11 each: Every ending plan in that county had a suppressed count.
• Plans 2026 → 2027: The number of general plans sold in that county each year.

Also note that member counts include employer-group enrollees. Therefore, the number of individuals choosing a new plan is somewhat lower. A plan renamed or re-issued under a new ID shows as “gone” here and as “new” on the county pages.

Texas Counties Losing Medicare Advantage Plans in 2027

The county tables below are sorted by the number of members on ending plans. Click any county for its full plan list, premiums, caps, star ratings, and new 2027 options.

Counties with 1,000 or more members on ending plans

These 34 counties hold most of the affected members. Harris County alone accounts for at least 26,879 people. The big metro areas around Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and San Antonio are hit hardest.

Collin County loses the most plans of any Texas county, with 25 gone. Henderson and Burnet counties each see seven plans simply leave the county.

Counties with 200 to 999 members on ending plans

Next come 48 mid-sized and suburban counties. Many sit around the major metros or along the Gulf Coast.

Counties with 11 to 199 members on ending plans

These 105 counties are mostly rural. The member counts are smaller, but the shelf often shrinks sharply. For example, Kimble County drops from 12 plans to just 4.

A few counties actually gain plans despite losses. Victoria, Uvalde, and Robertson counties all end 2027 with more general plans than in 2026.

Counties where every ending plan had fewer than 11 members

In these 57 counties, CMS suppressed every ending plan’s count. Still, members here receive the same non-renewal letters. Some of these counties lose more than half their plans.

Texas counties keeping every 2026 plan

Only 10 Texas counties lose no general plan for 2027. Members in these counties face no forced switch:

• Collingsworth County
• Gaines County
• Hemphill County
• Lipscomb County
• Ochiltree County
• Parmer County
• Scurry County
• Terrell County
• Val Verde County
• Wilbarger County

Even so, every plan sent an Annual Notice of Change by September 30. So members here should still review their 2027 costs and benefits.

All 68 Discontinued Medicare Advantage Plans in Texas for 2027

The plans below have no row anywhere in the CMS 2027 file. They are sorted by September 2026 Texas enrollment. Members are summed across the Texas counties where CMS reports a count.

Three plans lead the list. AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC TX-0005 had 34,261 members. Next, AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC TX-0006 had 15,598. Then Memorial Hermann Advantage had 14,188.

Notice that several plans share a name, such as Wellcare Giveback. Always match the Plan ID on your member card, not just the plan name. Also, Humana USAA Honor Giveback had the widest reach, sold in 168 Texas counties.

Which Carriers Are Discontinuing the Most Texas Plans

Blue Cross and Blue Shield entities end the most plans, with 20 in total. However, UnitedHealthcare plans hold the most affected members, at 62,992. The table below groups the 68 discontinued plans by carrier family.

These carrier totals sum only plans discontinued everywhere. In contrast, the 197,762 headline also counts plans that left specific counties but continue elsewhere. Both figures exclude CMS-suppressed counts under 11.

Carrier names here are factual reporting. Most companies changed plans somewhere for 2027. Also, Memorial Hermann Health Plan and several Blue Cross entities have no general plan in Harris County for 2027.

County Spotlight: Harris County

Harris County has the most affected members in Texas. 23 general plans sold here in 2026 are gone for 2027. Of those, 22 are discontinued everywhere and one left the county. At least 26,879 people were enrolled in them in September 2026.

The shelf drops from 69 to 49 general plans. The number of companies falls from 14 to 11. Meanwhile, 33 of the 49 remaining plans have a $0 premium. Special Needs Plans actually grow here, from 45 to 50.

Harris County plans not offered in 2027

2027 Star Ratings are not yet published. “n/a” in the premium column marks plans without drug coverage, as listed in the source.

New general plans in Harris County for 2027

Companies selling general plans in Harris County for 2027 are Aetna Medicare, Devoted Health, HealthSpring, Humana, KelseyCare Advantage, MedCare Partners Health Plan of Texas, SCAN Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare, Verda Health Plan of Texas, Wellcare, and Wellpoint. Listing a plan is not a recommendation. Fit depends on your doctors, prescriptions, and health.

The Non-Renewal Letter and What It Means

A plan that is not renewing must mail each member a notice at least 90 calendar days before it ends. This rule comes from 42 CFR § 422.506. For a December 31 end date, the letter lands on or about October 2. Medicare.gov describes the same notice on its page about plans no longer available in your area.

This letter is separate from the Annual Notice of Change. Every plan sent that notice by September 30. Also, a plan that only left your county sends the same kind of non-renewal notice.

What the letter does not mean

• You are not losing Medicare. Parts A and B stay in place.
• Your doctors are not necessarily leaving. Network fit depends on the new plan you pick.
• You do not need to cancel anything. The plan ends on its own on December 31.

Most importantly, keep the letter. It is the document that proves your Medigap guaranteed-issue right later.

Will you be moved to another plan automatically?

Not into a plan from a different company. If your plan is discontinued and you do nothing, you return to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027. You would have no drug coverage and no annual out-of-pocket cap. Some carriers move members into a sister plan under the same contract. Your letter says whether yours does.

Your Three Options for 2027

Members of an ending plan have three main paths. Pick the path first, then the specific plan.

1. Another Medicare Advantage plan. Choose it between October 15 and December 7 so it starts January 1, per Medicare.gov’s guide to joining a plan. Compare in this order: doctors and hospital, prescriptions, in-network cap, then premium.
2. Original Medicare plus Medigap plus a drug plan. When your plan leaves Medicare or your area, you can buy Medigap Plan A, B, D, G, K, or L with no health questions. You may apply from 60 days before to 63 days after coverage ends, according to Medicare.gov’s Medigap timing rules. That window runs November 1, 2026 through March 4, 2027. Plans C and F are open only if you were Medicare-eligible before 2020. There is no network, so any Medicare provider works.
3. Original Medicare plus a drug plan, no Medigap. This has the lowest premium and no network. However, there is no annual cap on your 20% share. Price it against your health before choosing it.

Texas has 10 stand-alone Part D drug plans for 2027. Some states add further Medigap rights, so ask before you buy.

The safety net if you miss December 7

A discontinued plan also gives you a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 through February 28. This comes from 42 CFR § 422.62. But a plan chosen in January starts February 1. So January would be spent in Original Medicare with no drug coverage. Treat it as a backstop, not a plan.

Key Dates for Texas Medicare Members

The calendar below applies to every Texas county with an ending plan. The December 7 deadline is the one most members should aim for.

What to Do This Week

Time is short, so move through these steps in order.

1. Find both letters. Locate the Annual Notice of Change and any non-renewal notice. Store the non-renewal letter where you can find it in February.
2. List your care. Write down every doctor, every prescription, and your pharmacy. Nothing can be compared until that list exists.
3. Decide the path before the plan. Advantage versus Medigap is the bigger choice. If you lean Medigap, the window is already open.
4. Ignore cold calls. A plan ending attracts heavy marketing. No legitimate agent needs your Medicare number to “check” anything.
5. Enroll by December 7. Earlier is fine. CMS counts the last enrollment request in the window, so you can still change your mind.
6. Check every option. Use Medicare Plan Compare to see every plan in your county. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

Conclusion

The 2027 shake-up touches nearly every corner of Texas. 68 plans are ending, 244 counties lose options, and nearly 200,000 members must act. Large metro counties like Harris, Tarrant, and Dallas carry the biggest numbers. Meanwhile, rural counties often lose half or more of their plans.

The good news is that every affected member has clear choices. First, keep your non-renewal letter. Next, list your doctors and prescriptions. Then compare a new Advantage plan against Original Medicare with Medigap. Finally, enroll before December 7, 2026, so coverage starts cleanly on January 1.

Sources

• CMS CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape file (updated September 22, 2026)
• CMS CY2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape file
• CMS Monthly Enrollment by Contract, Plan, State and County, September 2026
• CMS 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D state-by-state fact sheets
• 42 CFR § 422.506, non-renewal notice rules
• 42 CFR § 422.62, Special Enrollment Period rules
• Medicare.gov, when a plan is no longer available in your area
• Medicare.gov, joining a plan
• Medicare.gov, when you can buy a Medigap policy
• Medicare Plan Compare
• Medicare On Main, Texas county-by-county breakdown (reference data)