South Dakota Medicare

Medicare Advantage Plans in South Dakota for 2027: What's Ending and What's Available

20 South Dakota Medicare plans end or leave counties for 2027, per CMS; 33,495 people must choose a new plan. Another 4 were merged or renumbered, so those members move automatically. If yours is on the list, a licensed agent can help at no cost to you.

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You can enroll in a 2027 Medicare plan from October 15 through December 7.

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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. Not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Calls are recorded, as Medicare requires.

Which South Dakota Medicare plans are ending in 2027?

Checked October 6, 2026 against CMS's 2026 and 2027 plan lists and September 2026 enrollment.

The biggest plans ending: Aetna (15,040 members), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mutual Ins. (10,445 members), Align ChoicePlus (4,472 members). CMS's 2027 Plan Crosswalk says 20 South Dakota Medicare Advantage and Part D plans end or leave counties for 2027, with at least 33,495 people enrolled who must choose a new plan. Another 4 plans (15,375 people) were merged into other plans or given new plan numbers; CMS moves those members automatically, and their letter names the new plan. A plan that ends stops on December 31, 2026. It does not mean you lose Medicare. Your plan's own letter is the final word.

Aetna: 6 plans end or leave counties (15,040 members) county detail
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mutual Ins.: 3 plans end or leave counties (10,445 members) county detail
Align ChoicePlus (Sanford Health): 2 plans end or leave counties (4,472 members) county detail
Medica Holding Company: 9 plans end or leave counties (3,538 members); 2 merged or renumbered (13,764 members) county detail
Cigna HealthSpring: no plans ending; 2 merged or renumbered (1,611 members) county detail

24 South Dakota plans on CMS's 2026 list but not its 2027 list: plans that end come first, then plans CMS merged or renumbered
Plan	Plan ID	Counties	Members	What CMS says for 2027
SilverScript Choice (PDP) Aetna	S5601-050	Statewide (Part D drug plan)	14,401	Ends December 31, 2026. Members must choose a new plan. 14,401 of them are in counties where this company has no 2027 plan at all.
Blue Medicare Advantage Enhanced PPO (PPO) Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mutual Ins.	H5900-004	Aurora, Bon Homme, Brookings, Butte and 39 more	9,657+	Ends December 31, 2026. Members must choose a new plan. 9,657 of them are in counties where this company has no 2027 plan at all.
Align ChoicePlus (PPO) Align ChoicePlus (Sanford Health)	H8385-003	Brookings, Clark, Clay, Day and 15 more	3,615+	Ends December 31, 2026. Members must choose a new plan.
Medica Advantage Preferred (PPO) Medica Holding Company	H8889-013	Brookings, Butte, Clark, Codington and 14 more	2,518	Leaves these counties for 2027. Members here must choose a new plan.
Align ChoiceElite (PPO) Align ChoicePlus (Sanford Health)	H8385-001	Brookings, Clark, Clay, Day and 15 more	857+	Ends December 31, 2026. Members must choose a new plan.
Blue Medicare Advantage Classic PPO (PPO) Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mutual Ins.	H5900-008	Butte, Custer, Fall River, Haakon and 4 more	579+	Ends December 31, 2026. Members must choose a new plan. 579 of them are in counties where this company has no 2027 plan at all.
Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO) Aetna	H1608-120	Aurora, Beadle, Bon Homme, Brule and 20 more	424+	Leaves these counties for 2027. Members here must choose a new plan. 424 of them are in counties where this company has no 2027 plan at all.
Medica Prime Solution Core w/Rx (Cost) Medica Holding Company	H2450-035	Aurora, Beadle, Bennett, Bon Homme and 44 more	388+	Ends December 31, 2026. Members must choose a new plan.
Medica Prime Solution Core (Cost) Medica Holding Company	H2450-034	Campbell, Corson, Dewey, Haakon and 5 more	295+	Leaves these counties for 2027. Members here must choose a new plan.
Blue Medicare Advantage Valor PPO (PPO) Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mutual Ins.	H5900-007	Aurora, Bon Homme, Brookings, Butte and 39 more	209+	Ends December 31, 2026. Members must choose a new plan. 209 of them are in counties where this company has no 2027 plan at all.
Found your plan on this list?A licensed agent reads your letter with you and goes over your options. No cost, 8 AM to midnight ET. Call 855-367-1095
Medica Prime Solution Standard (Cost) Medica Holding Company	H2450-044	Campbell, Corson, Dewey, Haakon and 5 more	175+	Leaves these counties for 2027. Members here must choose a new plan.
Aetna Medicare Enhanced Extra (PPO) Aetna	H1608-119	Aurora, Beadle, Bon Homme, Brule and 20 more	112+	Leaves these counties for 2027. Members here must choose a new plan. 112 of them are in counties where this company has no 2027 plan at all.
Medica Prime Solution Premier w/Rx (Cost) Medica Holding Company	H2450-037	Aurora, Beadle, Bennett, Bon Homme and 44 more	92+	Ends December 31, 2026. Members must choose a new plan.
Aetna Medicare Dual (PPO D-SNP) Aetna	H1608-062	Aurora, Beadle, Bon Homme, Brule and 20 more	76+	Leaves these counties for 2027. Members here must choose a new plan. 76 of them are in counties where this company has no 2027 plan at all.
Medica Prime Solution Premier (Cost) Medica Holding Company	H2450-036	Campbell, Corson, Dewey, Haakon and 5 more	59+	Leaves these counties for 2027. Members here must choose a new plan.
Aetna Medicare Full Dual (PPO D-SNP) Aetna	H1608-121	Aurora, Beadle, Bon Homme, Brule and 20 more	27+	Leaves these counties for 2027. Members here must choose a new plan. 27 of them are in counties where this company has no 2027 plan at all.
Medica Prime Solution Standard w/Rx (Cost) Medica Holding Company	H2450-049	Campbell, Corson, Dewey, Haakon and 5 more	11+	Leaves these counties for 2027. Members here must choose a new plan.
Aetna Medicare Eagle (PPO) Aetna	H1608-061	Aurora, Beadle, Bon Homme, Brule and 20 more	10 or fewer	Leaves these counties for 2027. Members here must choose a new plan.
Medica Prime Solution Thrift (Cost) Medica Holding Company	H2450-030	Campbell, Corson, Dewey, Haakon and 5 more	10 or fewer	Leaves these counties for 2027. Members here must choose a new plan.
Medica Prime Solution Thrift w/Rx (Cost) Medica Holding Company	H2450-007	Campbell, Corson, Dewey, Haakon and 5 more	10 or fewer	Leaves these counties for 2027. Members here must choose a new plan.
Found your plan on this list?A licensed agent reads your letter with you and goes over your options. No cost, 8 AM to midnight ET. Call 855-367-1095
Medica Advantage Select (PPO) Medica Holding Company	H8889-018	Brookings, Butte, Clark, Codington and 14 more	8,498	Continues for 2027 as Medica Advantage Select (PPO) (H8889-028). Members keep their plan.
Medica Advantage Value (PPO) Medica Holding Company	H8889-017	Brookings, Butte, Clark, Codington and 14 more	5,266	Continues for 2027 as Medica Advantage Essential (PPO) (H8889-027). Members keep their plan.
HealthSpring Extra Rx (PDP) Cigna HealthSpring	S5617-375	Statewide (Part D drug plan)	1,113+	Merged into HealthSpring Assurance Rx (PDP) (S5715-043) for 2027. Members are moved automatically and can still switch.
HealthSpring Assurance Rx (PDP) Cigna HealthSpring	S5617-123	Statewide (Part D drug plan)	498+	Merged into HealthSpring Assurance Rx (PDP) (S5715-043) for 2027. Members are moved automatically and can still switch.

Full detail by company and county: South Dakota Medicare plan changes for 2027. CMS hides county counts of 10 or fewer, so totals are at least the number shown.

Medicare Advantage plans available in South Dakota for 2027

Checked 2026-10-17 against CMS's 2027 plan benefit and county files.

28 Medicare Advantage plans are offered in South Dakota for 2027 by 5 companies. 2 are HMO plans and 20 are PPO plans. 7 are special needs plans, which only people who qualify (for example, people who also have Medicaid or a chronic condition) can join, so 21 are open to most people with Medicare. Depending on the county, you can choose from between 6 and 21 plans.

Compared with 2026: 27 plans were offered in South Dakota in 2026, so the count is up by 1 for 2027. Listed in CMS's 2026 files but not its 2027 files: Wellmark Advantage Health Plan (3 plans in 2026). A company can also appear to leave because it changed its name, so check your own plan's letter.

Plans by company, 2026 and 2027

Company	Plans in 2026	Plans in 2027	Change
Medica	12	13	+1
Aetna Medicare	5	8	+3
UnitedHealthcare	3	3	no change
Align powered by Sanford Health Plan	2	2	no change
Great Plains Medicare Advantage	2	2	no change
Wellmark Advantage Health Plan	3	0	not listed

Plans offered by county, 2026 and 2027

County	Plans in 2026	Plans in 2027	Change
Aurora	18	9	−9
Beadle	16	9	−7
Bennett	8	6	−2
Bon Homme	20	11	−9
Brookings	18	19	+1
Brown	11	9	−2
Brule	13	6	−7
Buffalo	13	6	−7
Butte	10	7	−3
Campbell	18	7	−11
Charles Mix	20	11	−9
Clark	16	9	−7
Clay	20	19	−1
Codington	9	9	no change
Corson	18	7	−11
Custer	12	9	−3
Davison	16	9	−7
Day	18	11	−7
Deuel	18	11	−7
Dewey	13	7	−6
Douglas	22	13	−9
Edmunds	10	6	−4
Fall River	10	7	−3
Faulk	8	6	−2
Grant	8	6	−2
Gregory	13	6	−7
Haakon	14	7	−7
Hamlin	12	7	−5
Hand	10	8	−2
Hanson	20	11	−9
Harding	13	7	−6
Hughes	10	8	−2
Hutchinson	20	11	−9
Hyde	8	6	−2
Jackson	14	7	−7
Jerauld	15	6	−9
Jones	8	6	−2
Kingsbury	18	11	−7
Lake	20	19	−1
Lawrence	12	9	−3
Lincoln	22	21	−1
Lyman	8	6	−2
Marshall	16	9	−7
McCook	22	21	−1
McPherson	10	6	−4
Meade	12	9	−3
Mellette	8	6	−2
Miner	22	13	−9
Minnehaha	22	21	−1
Moody	22	21	−1
Oglala Lakota	8	6	−2
Pennington	12	9	−3
Perkins	13	7	−6
Potter	8	6	−2
Roberts	13	11	−2
Sanborn	16	9	−7
Spink	12	7	−5
Stanley	10	8	−2
Sully	8	6	−2
Todd	8	6	−2
Tripp	10	8	−2
Turner	22	21	−1
Union	20	19	−1
Walworth	18	7	−11
Yankton	18	17	−1
Ziebach	13	7	−6

Counts include special needs plans. A plan can be offered in only part of a state, so the plans you can choose depend on your county. Which plans keep your doctors and cover your medicines is not in the CMS files; a licensed agent checks that for you.

Ready to enroll in a South Dakota plan?

Call 855-367-1095 to enroll

No cost. No obligation. Not the government. Speak with a licensed insurance agent (TTY 711).

Will a 2027 plan keep your doctors and cover your prescriptions?

The public plan sites can't tell you that without a lot of clicking, and some 2027 plans aren't on them until October 15. Give us your doctors and your prescriptions and a licensed agent checks every 2027 plan in your county against your list, then calls you with the two or three that fit. No cost, no obligation.

Got a letter saying your Medicare plan is leaving or won't renew?

A non-renewal letter means your specific plan won't continue in your county after December 31, 2026. It doesn't mean you lose Medicare, and it usually doesn't mean your insurance company is leaving Medicare altogether. You can choose a new Medicare Advantage plan, or move to Original Medicare with a Medigap plan and a Part D drug plan.

Medicare Advantage in South Dakota today

At least 68,168 South Dakota residents are in an individual Medicare Advantage plan (27 plans from 6 companies across 66 counties in 2026).
Largest carriers by members: Medica (41,846), Wellmark Advantage Health Plan (10,445), UnitedHealthcare (6,226), Aetna (4,921), Align powered by Sanford Health Plan (4,472), Great Plains Medicare Advantage (258).
Last year, 29 South Dakota Medicare Advantage plans ended or dropped counties for 2026, affecting about 35,076 members, most from Medica, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna.

My Medicare Advantage plan is ending. What are my deadlines?

Your current plan keeps working through December 31, 2026. Doctors, prescriptions and benefits work as usual until then.
Open Enrollment, October 15, 2026 to December 7, 2026: pick a new plan now and it starts January 1, 2027, with no gap.
Your extra window, December 8, 2026 to February 28, 2027: because your plan is being discontinued, you get a Special Enrollment Period on top of Open Enrollment. An enrollment request received December 8-31 is effective January 1; received in January, effective February 1; received in February, effective March 1.
Medigap guaranteed issue: apply as early as November 1, 2026, and no later than March 4, 2027 (63 days after your coverage ends).

What happens if I do nothing when my plan is cancelled?

You don't lose Medicare. If you don't choose a new plan, you're moved to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) on January 1, 2027. Original Medicare doesn't include prescription drug coverage, so you'd need to join a separate Part D plan. Going 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage can mean a permanent late-enrollment penalty.

Can I switch to a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan without health questions?

Usually yes. When a Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or stops offering coverage, federal law gives you a guaranteed issue right: a Medigap company must sell you Plan A, B, D or G (or C or F if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020), can't charge more for past or present health problems, and can't refuse you, as long as you switch to Original Medicare. Some states add more rights than this. Keep your non-renewal letter; it can serve as proof.

How Medigap guaranteed issue works when your plan ends

Losing your Advantage plan this year? Moving to Medigap | Medigap or another Advantage plan? | Moving to Medigap, step by step

What to check before choosing a replacement plan

Are your doctors, specialists and hospitals in the new plan's network?
Are your prescriptions on its drug list, and is your pharmacy covered?
Premium, deductible, copays and maximum out-of-pocket
HMO or PPO, and any extra benefits (dental, vision, hearing) that matter to you
Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare with Medigap and a Part D plan

Free Medicare tools

Questions about South Dakota Medicare plans ending

Which Medicare Advantage plans are ending in South Dakota for 2027?

The list on this page comes straight from CMS's 2027 plan files: every plan that won't renew, or won't be offered in a county, in South Dakota. It covers several carriers.

Is my Medicare Advantage plan being cancelled in South Dakota?

If your plan won't continue, you'll get a non-renewal letter by October 2, 2026. Your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) lists what's changing if your plan does continue. Your plan stays in force through December 31, 2026 either way.

How many people in South Dakota lost their Medicare Advantage plan last year?

For 2026, CMS's files show 29 Medicare Advantage plans ended or dropped counties in South Dakota, affecting about 35,076 members across 58 counties.

What happens if I don't pick a new plan after my Medicare Advantage plan ends?

You don't lose Medicare. If you don't choose anything, you're moved to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) on January 1, 2027. Original Medicare doesn't include drug coverage, so you'd need to join a separate Part D plan, and going 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage can mean a late-enrollment penalty.

How long do I have to switch after my Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued?

You can switch during Open Enrollment, October 15, 2026 to December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1. Because your plan is ending, you also get a Special Enrollment Period from December 8, 2026 through February 28, 2027. An enrollment request received December 8-31 is effective January 1; received in January, effective February 1; received in February, effective March 1. Choosing by December 7, 2026 avoids any gap.

Can I get a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan without health questions if my plan is ending?

Usually yes. When a Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or stops offering coverage, you have a guaranteed issue right to buy Medigap Plan A, B, D or G (and C or F if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020) without medical underwriting, as long as you move to Original Medicare. You can apply as early as 60 days before your coverage ends and no later than 63 days after (March 4, 2027). Some states give more rights than this.

Why did I get a letter saying my Medicare plan won't renew?

Plans that won't continue next year must mail members a non-renewal notice by October 2, 2026. It means your current plan ends December 31, 2026, not that you lose Medicare. Keep the letter: it shows which plan is ending and helps prove your enrollment rights.

Will my doctors still be covered on a new plan in South Dakota?

It depends on the plan you choose. Before switching, check that your doctors, specialists and hospitals are in the new plan's network, your prescriptions are on its drug list, and your pharmacy is covered. With Original Medicare plus Medigap, you can see any provider that accepts Medicare.

Which Medicare Advantage plans are available in South Dakota for 2027?

CMS's 2027 files list 28 Medicare Advantage plans offered in South Dakota by 5 companies: Medica (13 plans), Aetna Medicare (8 plans), UnitedHealthcare (3 plans), Align powered by Sanford Health Plan (2 plans), Great Plains Medicare Advantage (2 plans). 7 of them are special needs plans, which only people who qualify can join. Which plans you can actually choose depends on your county.

I just found out my plan is ending. Do I need to decide right away?

No. Your plan works through December 31, 2026. You can choose a new plan from October 15 to December 7, and because your plan is ending you also get a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 through February 28, 2027. Deciding earlier just means your new plan is settled before January 1.

Will I get pressured into a sales call if I ask for help?

No. A licensed agent looks at the plans available where you live in South Dakota, explains what changes for you, and you decide. There is no cost to you and no obligation to enroll in anything. Calls are recorded, as Medicare requires.

How do I know my plan is on this list?

Type your plan name or the plan ID from your member card into the box above the table. The list comes from CMS's own 2026 and 2027 plan files. Your plan's written notice is the final word; if the two disagree, trust the letter and have a licensed agent check it with you.

Is your South Dakota Medicare plan ending?

Call to check your plan and compare what's available where you live, with licensed Medicare help.

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Sources

Last updated 2026-10-06. Plan counts come from CMS files; CMS doesn't publish county counts of 10 or fewer members, so totals are at least the number shown.