Providence Medicare Sycamore + Rx ending in Orange County after 2026: what to do in the 2026 AEP
Providence is exiting Medicare Advantage for 2027. In Orange County, Sycamore + Rx (HMO) ends Dec 31, 2026. Your deadlines and what to check before Dec 7.
(updated ) · Khoi Le · Doodle · 2027 plan year
Do I need to pick a new plan?
Providence Health Plan is exiting Medicare Advantage for 2027. In Orange County, that means Providence Medicare Sycamore + Rx (HMO, H9047-066) ends December 31, 2026. Providence Health Plan says its Medicare Advantage plans “will not be available in 2027 or beyond.” Is My Plan Ending? (ismyplanending.com), an independent tracker built on CMS data, counts about 4,000 members in this plan, based on CMS’s September 2026 enrollment files.
Your Sycamore + Rx coverage works through December 31, 2026. You won’t be moved into a new plan automatically. To have new coverage on January 1, 2027, choose it during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, 2026.
If you don’t choose anything, you will have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) on January 1. Sycamore + Rx includes drug coverage, so if you do nothing you would also lose that drug coverage.
This page is educational. It doesn’t recommend a plan.
What is changing for Providence Medicare Sycamore + Rx (HMO) members in Orange County?
| Topic | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Through December 31, 2026 | Sycamore + Rx works as usual: same card, network, and pharmacy rules |
| Starting January 1, 2027 | Sycamore + Rx coverage ends in Orange County |
| Automatic move to another plan? | No. Is My Plan Ending? lists this plan as ending because the company is ending this contract, with no automatic move |
| If you take no action | Original Medicare only, with no drug plan |
| Drug coverage | You need a new Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage or a separate Part D plan |
How long do I have to choose?
- October 15 to December 7, 2026 (Annual Enrollment Period): new coverage starts January 1, 2027.
- December 8, 2026 to February 28, 2027 (Special Enrollment Period for plans that are ending): this comes from 42 CFR 422.62(b)(1). Medicare.gov lists the dates as December 8 through the last day of February. A choice made in December starts January 1. A choice made in January starts February 1, and a choice made in February starts March 1.
If you wait until January or February, you’ll have Original Medicare only, with no drug plan, until the new coverage starts.
Can I buy a Medigap policy instead?
If you move to Original Medicare, you may have a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap policies without health questions. Under federal rules you can apply as early as 60 days before your plan ends and up to 63 days after. California adds another 60 days right after that federal window (Cal. Ins. Code § 10192.11(g); Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1358.11(g)). Medigap plans sold after 2005 don’t include drug coverage, so you would also need a Part D plan if you want one.
What to do before December 7 (Orange County)
- Read Providence’s letter about the plan ending. It lists your deadlines.
- List your Orange County doctors, specialists, medical group, pharmacy, and prescriptions (drug name, dose, and how often).
- Compare what’s available in Orange County. Networks and drug lists vary by plan.
- Check that your doctors and drugs work with each option before you enroll.
- Enroll by December 7, 2026 for a January 1 start.
- Keep the Providence letter and your new enrollment confirmation.
Parent guide: California Medicare Advantage plan exits (2026 AEP)
Also ending in Orange County: Central Health Medicare Plan is leaving Medicare after 2026 and Honor+ exiting Orange County for 2027.
Can I keep my Hoag doctor with SCAN?
Soft next step
If you’d like help comparing options in Orange County for your doctors and prescriptions, a licensed Doodle agent can walk through them with you. Start a conversation with Doodle.
Common questions
Do I lose Medicare?
No. You keep Part A and Part B. The Providence plan’s network, extra benefits, and drug coverage end on December 31, 2026.
Will Providence or Medicare pick a new plan for me?
No. This plan ends with no automatic move. If you want Medicare Advantage or drug coverage in 2027, you need to enroll in it.
Can I keep my Orange County doctors?
Only if they accept the coverage you choose. Ask the office, and check the plan’s provider directory for Orange County before you enroll.
Is this page recommending a plan?
No. It explains the change and your deadlines. Your choice depends on your doctors, prescriptions, costs, and what’s offered in Orange County.
About this page
Written for Doodle by Khoi Le. Facts checked on October 7, 2026, against Providence Health Plan’s public notice and plan page, county data from Is My Plan Ending? (built on CMS files), and federal and California rules.
This page is educational. It isn’t advice, a quote, or an invitation to enroll in a specific plan.
Sources
- Providence Medicare Advantage Plans (providencehealthplan.com): “will not be available in 2027 or beyond”; coverage ends 12/31/26
- Providence Medicare Sycamore + Rx (HMO) 2026 plan page (providencehealthplan.com): available in Orange County, California; includes Part D prescription drug coverage
- Is My Plan Ending? Orange County, CA: Sycamore + Rx (H9047-066-0), “company ending this contract,” about 4,000 members (CMS September 2026 enrollment)
- 42 CFR 422.62(b)(1)
- Special Enrollment Periods (Medicare.gov)
- Choosing a Medigap Policy (CMS)
- Cal. Ins. Code § 10192.11(g) and Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1358.11(g)