Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas Is Ending Its Medicare Plans for 2027: What to Do
BCBSTX is dropping all of its Medicare plans, its Medicare Advantage plans, its Blue Cross MedicareRx drug plans, and its Dual Care Plus plans, at the end of 2026. It sold these plans in about 227 of Texas’s 254 counties, so the change reaches nearly the whole state. If you are affected, you have a protected window to switch, and what you need to do depends on which plan you have. Here is exactly what is happening and how to choose new coverage.
County figures are as reported in October 2026 (about 227, with some outlets reporting 227 to 229). No public count of affected members has been released. Confirm your own plan on Medicare.gov or with the number on your member card.
Your plan ending gives you a protected window to switch
Because your plan is non-renewing, you can choose new coverage during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7), and you also get a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 through the last day of February. If you move to Original Medicare, you may also have guaranteed-issue Medigap rights (generally from 60 days before your coverage ends to 63 days after), so you can buy a Medicare Supplement without medical underwriting. The key is to act rather than wait.
Can you change your Medicare plan right now?
Pick what is going on. Nothing is saved, and there is no signup. This is a guide, not an official enrollment decision.
What best describes your situation?
What is happening
For the 2027 plan year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas will no longer offer any of these Medicare plans. Coverage under them ends December 31, 2026:
- Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plans (individual and group).
- Blue Cross MedicareRx (PDP) standalone drug plans.
- Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dual Care Plus (HMO SNP) plans, the plans for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid.
BCBSTX’s parent company, HCSC, acquired Cigna’s Medicare business in 2025 and now runs Medicare Advantage under the HealthSpring brand. HCSC will keep offering HealthSpring in Texas, but in a much smaller footprint (about 47 counties) than the roughly 227 counties BCBSTX covered. That difference is why what you should do next depends on which plan you have.
What to do depends on which plan you have
If you have a Blue Cross MedicareRx drug plan (Part D)
You are expected to be moved automatically to a HealthSpring drug plan for 2027, so you will not lose drug coverage by doing nothing. But review that new plan before you rely on it, because it may not cover the same drugs or use the same pharmacies at the same price. If it is not a good fit, you can choose a different drug plan during open enrollment.
If you have a Medicare Advantage or Dual Care Plus plan
You are not moved automatically, and you must actively choose new coverage for 2027. HealthSpring Medicare Advantage is available in only about 47 Texas counties, so it may or may not be offered where you live; you can choose it where it is, or any other plan available to you. If you do nothing, you are generally returned to Original Medicare with no drug coverage, which can leave a gap and a late-enrollment penalty. Do not assume you will be moved to a new plan.
If you have Dual Care Plus (Medicare and Medicaid)
Dual Care Plus is a plan for people who have both Medicare and Texas Medicaid. Two things matter here:
Your Texas Medicaid is not ending. Only the BCBSTX Medicare plan is going away. Your Medicaid eligibility and benefits are run separately by Texas Health and Human Services and are not affected by this change.
You still need new Medicare coverage for 2027. Options include another Dual Special Needs Plan where one is offered, a regular Medicare Advantage plan, or Original Medicare plus a drug plan. If you have Medicaid or Extra Help, you can change a drug plan once a month.
Get help choosing. The best fit depends on your Medicaid plan and your care team, so confirm your options with 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), your HHSC caseworker, or 2-1-1 Texas before you switch.
The dates that matter
| Window | When | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Enrollment Period | Now to December 7, 2026 | Choose a plan here and it starts January 1, 2027 with no gap. Best option. |
| Non-renewal Special Enrollment Period | December 8 to end of February | A plan chosen here starts the first of the next month, so it can leave a coverage gap. |
| Medigap guaranteed-issue window | 60 days before to 63 days after coverage ends | Buy a Medicare Supplement without medical underwriting if you move to Original Medicare. |
The simplest path to avoid any coverage gap is to choose your 2027 plan by December 7.
Pick the plan that keeps your doctors and drugs
With BCBSTX gone, the real question is which of the plans available in your county keeps your doctors and covers your prescriptions at the lowest total cost, and whether a HealthSpring plan, another Medicare Advantage plan, or Original Medicare plus Medigap is the better fit. For a flat $99, CareRoute Decision Support researches that for you, verifying provider participation directly rather than trusting the directory. We are independent, do not sell insurance, and take no commissions. Got a confusing notice? Check it free first.
If a switch leaves you with an out-of-network or surprise bill, CareRoute Bill Defense can review and negotiate it. Free to submit; you only pay if we save you money.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas really ending its Medicare plans for 2027?
Yes. BCBSTX has confirmed that for the 2027 plan year it will no longer offer its Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plans, its Blue Cross MedicareRx (PDP) standalone drug plans, or its Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dual Care Plus (HMO SNP) plans. Coverage under these plans ends December 31, 2026, so affected members need new Medicare coverage for 2027. BCBSTX sold these plans in about 227 of Texas’s 254 counties, so the change reaches nearly the whole state. Affected members are being sent a non-renewal notice.
I have a Blue Cross MedicareRx (Part D) drug plan. What happens to me?
If you have a standalone Blue Cross MedicareRx (PDP) drug plan, you are expected to be moved automatically to a HealthSpring drug plan for 2027 (HealthSpring is the Medicare brand of BCBSTX’s parent company, HCSC). You do not have to do anything to keep drug coverage, but you should still review the HealthSpring plan you are moved into, because it may not cover the same drugs or use the same pharmacies at the same cost. If it is not a good fit, you can choose a different Part D or Medicare Advantage plan during open enrollment instead.
I have a BCBSTX Medicare Advantage or Dual Care Plus plan. Am I moved to a new plan automatically?
No. Unlike the drug-plan members, if you are in a Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plan or a Dual Care Plus plan, you are not moved automatically and must actively choose new coverage for 2027. HealthSpring does offer Medicare Advantage in Texas, but in a much smaller footprint (about 47 counties) than BCBSTX covered, so it may or may not be available where you live. You can choose a HealthSpring plan where it is offered, or any other plan available to you. If you do nothing, you are generally returned to Original Medicare with no drug coverage, which can leave a gap and a late-enrollment penalty.
When do I need to act, and what is the deadline?
Choose a new plan during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, 2026, for coverage that starts January 1, 2027, with no gap. Because your plan is non-renewing, you also get a Special Enrollment Period that runs December 8 through the last day of February. A plan chosen during that later window starts the first of the following month, which can leave you without coverage for part of the year, so it is best to decide by December 7.
I have Dual Care Plus (Medicare and Medicaid). Is my Medicaid ending too?
No. The BCBSTX plan ending is your Medicare coverage. Your Texas Medicaid eligibility and benefits are administered separately by Texas Health and Human Services and are not affected by this change. You do need to choose new Medicare coverage for 2027, such as another Dual Special Needs Plan where available, a regular Medicare Advantage plan, or Original Medicare plus a drug plan. People with Medicaid or Extra Help can change a drug plan once a month. Because the right choice depends on your Medicaid plan and care team, confirm your options with 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), your caseworker, or 2-1-1 Texas.
Can I switch to a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan without medical underwriting?
Often, yes, if you act in time. When your Medicare Advantage plan ends through no fault of your own, you generally get guaranteed-issue rights to buy certain Medigap policies without medical underwriting. In Texas that window runs from as early as 60 days before your coverage ends to no later than 63 days after it ends (or 63 days after your notice, whichever is later). Texas uses the standard lettered Medigap plans. Outside this protected window, Texas insurers can require medical underwriting, so do not let the window lapse.
Related
Sources & references
How we verify: figures are checked against the BCBSTX member notice, HCSC announcements, Texas news reporting, Medicare.gov, and the Texas Department of Insurance, and are dated. Details can change; confirm your own plan before acting.
This is general information, not insurance advice, and not a recommendation of any specific plan or insurer. Details are as reported in October 2026 and may change; only standalone Blue Cross MedicareRx drug-plan members are reported to be moved automatically to a HealthSpring plan, while Medicare Advantage and Dual Care Plus members must actively choose new coverage. Confirm your own plan and options on Medicare.gov, with 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or, for Medicaid questions, 2-1-1 Texas. Enrollment windows and Medigap rights are set by federal and Texas rules. Last verified October 23, 2026.