Medicare Advantage Changes

Accepted Medicare Advantage plans by primary care location

Maintaining access to your primary care provider is an important consideration when selecting a Medicare Advantage plan. If you receive primary care at Mass General Brigham, the following Medicare Advantage plans include Mass General Brigham primary care providers in their 2027 networks.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital

• Aetna
• Mass General Brigham Health Plan

Mass General Brigham Primary Care (formerly North Shore Physicians Group, Harbor Medical Associates, Community Physicians, Pentucket Medical, Newton-Wellesley Medical Group, Integrated Care)

• Aetna
• Mass General Brigham Health Plan
• Tufts Medicare Preferred

Mass General Brigham Medical Group Western Massachusetts (formerly Cooley Dickinson Medical Group)

• Health New England
• Tufts Medicare Preferred
• United Healthcare

*As of 10/1/26, BCBSMA Medicare Advantage plans will no longer be in network for primary care. Medicare Advantage HMO for specialty care only, no primary care. Medicare Advantage PPO accepted with higher cost share. Learn more about this change below.

Wentworth Health Partners (New Hampshire)

• Humana
• Martin’s Point*
• United Healthcare

*For Maine residents only

Mass General Brigham Medical Group Salem (New Hampshire)

For patients who live in NH:

• United Healthcare

For patients who live in MA:

• Aetna*
• Mass General Brigham Health Plan*
• United Healthcare

*Not sold in NH, though in network with MGBMG Salem primary care providers

Mass General Brigham frequently asked questions

I received a letter from my health plan telling me my plan is no longer available in 2027 and I must choose a new plan. How do I get the right information to decide what is right for me?

We do have resources that can help you. Please contact our Mass General Brigham Patient Insurance Resource Center at 800-953-1680 to learn more about insurance plans and the Medicare Advantage plans in our Mass General Brigham network.

When can I change plans?

Every fall, patients who are Medicare eligible can shop for Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans during the fall Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. This Annual Enrollment Period generally begins mid-October and ends the first week of December. Coverage under the plan you choose during the fall Annual Enrollment Period takes effect January 1 of the new year.

There is also a second Open Enrollment Period that gives Medicare patients a second chance to enroll in a new plan if they missed the previous fall Annual Enrollment Period, or if they are not happy with the plan they chose for any reason. The second Open Enrollment Period takes place January 1st through March 31st of the new year. During this time, you may change plans once.

If I see a provider who is not in my insurance network, how do my out-of-pocket costs change?

We encourage you to call your health plan before scheduling an appointment with a doctor or for services that are not included in your insurance network to learn about what your out-of-network benefits are, based on your specific plan.

How do I make sure my Mass General Brigham providers are in-network with my health plan?

The best way to confirm if your Mass General Brigham providers are in-network is to call your insurance company. A representative with your insurance plan can answer questions about your specific benefits coverage and which providers are in network.

What if I experience a medical emergency? Can I go to a Mass General Brigham hospital for emergency care no matter what insurance plan I have?

Yes. Emergency care is always covered at all Mass General Brigham locations, regardless of what type of insurance plan you have. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please visit the location nearest to you.

Once I enroll in a new insurance plan, how do I let Mass General Brigham know about the change?

You can update your insurance information in Patient Gateway, upload a photo of your new card, or call the PSC Registration team at 866-211-6588.

What is Mass General Brigham Health Plan?

Mass General Brigham Health Plan is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mass General Brigham and has all Mass General Brigham providers as in-network providers.

If you would like to learn more about this plan option, as well as others, you can speak with your licensed insurance broker about your options.

If you don’t have a licensed insurance broker, you can call our Patient Insurance Resource Center at 800-953-1680 to learn more about the insurance plans in our Mass General Brigham network.

You may also visit the Medicare.gov website for a full list of plan options and other resources.

Cooley Dickinson frequently asked questions

What is changing?

Cooley Dickinson primary care providers will no longer be in-network in Blue Cross' Medicare Advantage PPO and HMO networks beginning October 1, 2026.

What is not changing?

Cooley Dickinson primary care providers remain in Blue Cross' commercial networks. Mass General Brigham specialty and hospital care will remain in-network for Blue Cross Medicare Advantage and commercial plans, including at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Patients may also continue to visit Mass General Brigham Express Care (formerly Urgent Care) practices for healthcare needs.

When can I change plans?

Every fall, patients who are Medicare eligible can shop for Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans during the fall Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. This Annual Enrollment Period begins mid-October and ends the first week of December. Coverage under the plan you choose during the fall Annual Enrollment Period takes effect on January 1 of the new year.

There is also a second Open Enrollment Period that gives Medicare patients a second chance to enroll in a new plan if they missed the previous fall Annual Enrollment Period, or if they are not happy with the plan they chose for any reason. The second Open Enrollment Period takes place January 1 through March 31 of the new year. During this time, you may change plans once.

We encourage patients to explore options that best meet their health care needs during the upcoming Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period.

What should I do if I have a primary care appointment scheduled after October 1 but before January 1, 2027?

If a Blue Cross Medicare Advantage member needs to continue seeing their current primary care provider after October 1, we have established a coordinated 90-day transition period through December 31 to support them:

• Continuity of care process: All Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO and HMO members can easily request continued access to their primary care provider. Members can submit a continuity of care form directly or call the phone number on the back of their member ID card to have Blue Cross initiate the process.
• No change in cost: For approved continuity of care, members will continue to see their provider at the in-network cost-sharing rate—there will not be any change in cost during this 90-day window.

Are there other plan options available to remain in-network starting January 1?

To continue to have in-network access to your Mass General Brigham Western Mass primary care providers in 2027, you will need to select a participating plan. Options include enrolling in traditional Medicare with a supplemental plan OR enrolling in another in-network Medicare Advantage plan for 2027 including Health New England, Tufts Medicare Preferred, and United Healthcare.

Can I still see my Mass General Brigham Western Mass primary care provider if my insurance plan is not in-network?

Before you schedule or go to a primary care appointment, we encourage you to call your insurance company to learn what your out-of-network benefits are. Different plans have different requirements about which providers you can see and how your out-of-pocket costs are impacted. Please call your insurance company.

My Medicare plan is no longer in-network with Mass General Brigham Western Mass primary care, but my primary care provider supports and coordinates care I am currently receiving for a chronic condition or serious illness. Can I still see them?

If a Blue Cross Medicare Advantage member needs to continue seeing their current primary care provider after October 1, we have established a coordinated 90-day transition period through December 31 to support them:

• Continuity of care process: All Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO and HMO members can easily request continued access to their primary care provider. Members can submit a continuity of care form directly or call the phone number on the back of their member ID card to have Blue Cross initiate the process.
• No change in cost: For approved continuity of care, members will continue to see their provider at the in-network cost-sharing rate—there will not be any change in cost during this 90-day window.

What if I experience a medical emergency? Can I go to a Mass General Brigham hospital for emergency care no matter what insurance plan I have?

Yes. Mass General Brigham specialty and hospital care will remain in-network for patients with these plans.

Emergency care is always covered at all Mass General Brigham locations, regardless of what type of insurance plan you have.

Patients may also visit Mass General Brigham Express Care (formerly Mass General Brigham Urgent Care) for non-life-threatening illness or injuries. Nearby Mass General Brigham Express Care locations include the following. Please visit the Mass General Brigham website to learn more about each location, including hours and available services.

• Mass General Brigham Express Care (Amherst)
• Mass General Brigham Express Care (Greenfield)
• Mass General Brigham Express Care (Northampton)
• Mass General Brigham Express Care (Southampton)