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Medicare Advantage
Premium Increases/ SARS/ Reduction in Benifits

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Service Area Reduction?

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Medicare in Maine has been a Roller coaster ride over the last 2 years, and who knows what 2027 is going to bring.  In 2026 at least Three plans in our areas had price increases, there was Service area Reductions and most plans are reducing extra benefits.

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So USE THIS AS your opportunity to enroll in a Medigap plan under guaranteed issue!!!!

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2026 Medicare advantage plan prices $35, $36 $49 or $55 $109 

My formal recommendation is to use this as an opportunity to get a Medigap plan.

  • If you get a SAR (service area reduction you have guaranteed issue rights)

  • You can do a High deductible plan G for $57 or a Plan G for $251 per month.  See below and schedule a time to make the switch in October, November or December.

  • If you are paying for your Medicare plan set up an appointment you may be able to get a Medigap plan and get off of the Medicare advantage merry-go-round.

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A service area reduction (SAR) happens when a Medicare Advantage carrier pulls back its coverage footprint — dropping certain counties, ZIP codes, or in some cases an entire region — so members who live in the affected area can no longer keep that plan for the coming year.

But federal law grants

"guaranteed issue" rights — meaning a carrier must accept you regardless of health status, at standard rates — in specific triggering events, and an involuntary loss of Medicare Advantage coverage due to the plan leaving your area is one of those triggers. So when a client gets a SAR notice, that letter itself is the qualifying event that unlocks guaranteed issue for a Medigap plan, letting them move to Medicare Supplement coverage without answering health questions.

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