Which Blue Cross Medicare plans end in Texas?
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) says on its Medicare page that effective January 1, 2027 it will no longer offer three kinds of Medicare plan for the 2027 plan year.
| Plan | What BCBSTX says |
|---|---|
| Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plans | No longer offered from January 1, 2027 |
| Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dual Care Plus (HMO SNP) | No longer offered from January 1, 2027 |
| Blue Cross MedicareRx (PDP) prescription drug plans | No longer offered from January 1, 2027 |
| Blue Medicare Supplement plans | Not named in the notice, and still shown on the same page |
BCBSTX told KERA that members were notified by mail before October 2 with a letter that gives them their options, and that they will have a special election period to choose another plan. It said it evaluates its Medicare products each year by market and that in some cases it needs to make adjustments. We did not find a public count of how many people are affected.
What are the dates if my plan is ending?
- October 15, 2026Medicare's annual enrollment period begins. You can pick a new plan now.
- December 7, 2026Annual enrollment ends. A plan chosen by this date starts January 1.
- December 31, 2026BCBSTX Medicare Advantage, Dual Care Plus and MedicareRx plans end.
- February 28, 2027Last day of the special enrollment period for a plan that is not renewed. It runs from December 8.
Source: BCBSTX Medicare page; KERA, October 20, 2026; Medicare.gov, Special Enrollment Periods
Do not wait until the last day. If your Medicare Advantage plan ends and you do not join another Medicare Advantage plan before it ends, you are enrolled in Original Medicare. Original Medicare does not include drug coverage, so you would need a separate Part D plan.
Ask the plan you pick for your exact start date, and confirm that your doctors, hospital and drugs are covered before you sign up.
What are my choices?
| If you have | Choices to compare |
|---|---|
| A Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plan | A different Medicare Advantage plan, or Original Medicare with a Medigap plan and a Part D drug plan |
| Blue Cross Dual Care Plus | Another plan for people with both Medicare and Medicaid. There is a separate special enrollment period for people with Medicare and Medicaid, so ask about it |
| Blue Cross MedicareRx | A different stand alone Part D drug plan that covers your medicines at your pharmacy |
| A Blue Medicare Supplement plan | Blue Cross does not name these plans in its notice. Check your own letter and call the number on your card |
For any new plan, check the doctors you use, the hospital you would go to, your drugs and the yearly maximum you could pay out of pocket. A company on a list can sell several plans, so look up the exact plan name.
Check the Medigap rules before you leave Medicare Advantage. After your first six months on Medicare Part B, an insurer can usually ask health questions and may charge more or turn you down, unless you have a guaranteed right to buy. Ask an agent or the state's free Medicare counseling program before you drop a plan.
Why do so many Dallas County marketplace enrollees pay so little?
Texas requires insurers to add a load to silver plan prices for cost sharing reductions, which Healthinsurance.org says was 40% as of 2026. That makes silver plans cost more than most gold plans, which raises the premium tax credit and makes bronze and gold plans cheaper.
| Measure | Dallas County | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| People who picked a plan | 452,075 | 4,172,233 |
| Received a premium tax credit | 94.5% | 92.9% |
| Average monthly premium before credits | $664 | $709 |
| Average monthly premium after credits | $67 | $89 |
| Paid $10 a month or less after credits | 63.9% | 49.5% |
| Picked a gold plan | 40.6% | 41.3% |
| Picked a silver plan | 13.3% | 26.6% |
| Picked a bronze plan | 46.0% | 29.8% |
Dallas County residents picked silver plans about half as often as Texas as a whole and bronze plans more often. A low premium is only part of the cost, since bronze plans have higher deductibles. These are 2026 numbers. Your 2027 price depends on your income, your household and the plans sold where you live.
Healthinsurance.org reports that Texas has 15 marketplace insurers for 2027, down from 16, because Cigna and Baylor Scott & White Health Plan are leaving. Enrollees in those plans must pick new coverage during open enrollment, November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1.
Who lives in Dallas and how many are uninsured?
Census estimates put Dallas at 1,329,491 residents, with 11.8% age 65 or older and 41.2% of residents age 5 and older speaking a language other than English at home. Among people under 65, 25.5% in Dallas and 24.2% in Dallas County have no health insurance. Texas has not expanded Medicaid, according to Healthinsurance.org, and it estimates about 605,000 people in the state are in the coverage gap.
How can a Dallas agent help if my plan is ending?
An agent can find the plans sold at your address, check your doctors, hospital and drugs in each one, and explain which dates apply to you. Have your plan's letter, your insurance card, your doctors' names and your prescriptions ready.
Health Insurance Solutions agents are licensed in 22 states and help by phone and online. Marketplace plans cost the same with or without an agent, so the comparison does not add to your premium.
Insurers and hospitals mentioned
Explore the organizations or brands discussed in this article. A mention does not mean every plan or location is covered.
- Insurer · TexasBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
- Medicare Advantage · TexasBaylor Scott & White Health Plan
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Marketplace, Medicaid and Medicare rules for the whole state.We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
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