Cheshire County residents considering its only generally available Medicare Advantage plan for 2027 face a significant provider-network limitation: Humana does not currently list the county's sole hospital or New Hampshire's only Level 1 trauma center as in-network.
Humana's plan did not include Cheshire Medical Center in Keene or Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon as of Oct. 23, according to the federal Medicare.gov comparison tool, as the Keene Sentinel first reported.
Dartmouth Health told the Sentinel that the health system was negotiating an agreement to join Humana's Cheshire County network. The system said it expected its member facilities to be included for 2027, provided an agreement was completed and signed.
No completion date was announced. Cheshire Medical Center's published list of accepted 2027 Medicare Advantage plans does not currently include Humana.
The Sentinel reported that Humana representatives were unavailable for comment before its original report was published.
What it means for patients
Patients who receive care at Cheshire Medical Center or other Dartmouth Health facilities should verify whether those providers participate in the specific Humana plan before enrolling.
Out-of-network care may carry higher costs, depending on the plan and type of service. Some plans provide out-of-network benefits, while others generally require patients to use participating providers except under specified circumstances.
In a letter explaining its existing Humana contract situation, Cheshire Medical Center said it and several Dartmouth Health facilities have been outside Humana's Medicare Advantage network since January 2025.
The medical center advises patients to check the details of their individual benefits and ask their insurer how claims from Dartmouth Health facilities will be processed.
The Keene Sentinel reported that Humana's Cheshire County network includes Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in Vermont and Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough. Those listings also warrant confirmation for the exact 2027 plan before patients select coverage.
Medicare Advantage choices narrow
New Hampshire's Medicare Advantage market is undergoing substantial changes for 2027, with insurers dropping plans, withdrawing from counties and changing provider networks.
Federal plan data compiled by PlainMedicare identifies HumanaChoice Giveback, a preferred provider organization plan, as Cheshire County's only Medicare Advantage option generally open to Medicare-eligible residents.
A separate UnitedHealthcare institutional special-needs plan is listed for people who meet its nursing facility-related eligibility requirements.
For many Cheshire County residents who want Medicare Advantage rather than Original Medicare, the Humana plan is therefore the principal option available during this enrollment period.
The narrower selection makes it especially important to compare provider access, prescription drug coverage, out-of-pocket costs and the plan's coverage rules.
Original Medicare generally allows patients to use participating providers across the country, although beneficiaries must consider separate prescription drug coverage and potential supplemental insurance costs.
Open enrollment and local help
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7. Coverage selected during this period takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Residents can compare plans and check participating providers through Medicare.gov. Provider networks may change, so patients should confirm participation directly with both the insurer and healthcare provider.
Sullivan County residents seeking help can contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center, formerly ServiceLink, at 603-542-5177. Its Sullivan County office is at 33 Arbor Way in Charlestown.
The statewide resource-center assistance line is 1-866-634-9412.
Cheshire County residents can reach the Monadnock Aging and Disability Resource Center in Keene at 603-352-7707.
People considering Humana's 2027 plan should confirm the latest network status before making a coverage decision. Dartmouth Health's previously reported negotiations do not, by themselves, establish that an agreement has been finalized.
