📉 PPOs Are Disappearing — Here’s What It Means for Your Medicare Plan

dalton brewster
Nov 4, 2025
3 min read

🇺🇸 Honoring Our Veterans

Before we dive in — a heartfelt thank you to those who’ve served or have family members who did. Happy Veterans Day! 🇺🇸I’m honored to work with so many veterans and help them access the Medicare benefits they’ve earned through their service.

Now, let’s talk about an important change for 2025:Some Medicare Advantage PPO plans are being discontinued, and many members are getting notices right now. Here’s what’s happening, why it matters, and what to do if it affects you (especially if you’re a veteran).

🤔 HMO vs PPO — What’s the Difference?

Here’s a quick refresher:

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)

✅ Lower premiums✅ Requires referrals✅ Must stay in-network

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)

✅ See any doctor or specialist✅ No referrals needed✅ Can go out-of-network (usually at a higher cost)

❌ Why Are PPOs Being Pulled?

Many carriers are scaling back PPO plans in select counties for 2025 due to:

High costs tied to flexible networks and out-of-network usage
Low enrollment in certain areas
Administrative complexity managing wide provider networks

If your PPO plan is being discontinued, you’ll need to choose a new plan before AEP ends on December 7th — otherwise, you could be automatically moved into a plan that doesn’t fit your needs or doctor preferences.

👉 Book a quick 15-minute review so I can help you compare your current PPO with the top available replacements in your county.

🎖 Special Medicare Advantage Options for Veterans

If you’re a veteran using VA healthcare, you may qualify for MA-Only plans (Medicare Advantage plans with no prescription drug coverage).These are designed to complement your VA benefits, not replace them.

These MA-Only plans often include:

💸 Higher Part B givebacks (money added back to your Social Security check)
🦷 Extra dental, vision, and hearing coverage
💪 Flex cards, gym memberships, and OTC allowances
❌ No prescription drug overlap — since you already use your VA pharmacy benefits

Even if your VA coverage is solid, these plans can add thousands in extra value each year — and many come with a $0 monthly premium.

👉 Click here to review Veteran-focused plans near you — you might be surprised at what you qualify for.

🧠 What You Can Do Now

Don’t wait until the last week of AEP to check your options. Here’s how to stay ahead:

✅ Review your plan — especially if your PPO is ending or changing✅ Compare HMO, PPO, and MA-Only options side-by-side✅ Check givebacks, copays, and extra benefits✅ Talk with an independent agent (that’s me!) who’ll actually read the fine print for you

📅 Schedule your free Medicare review before December 7th — it only takes 15 minutes and can prevent headaches later.

💌 Stay Informed Every Week

Want more timely updates like this? Join my free Medicare Tuesday Tune-Up — a quick weekly email every Tuesday at 10 AM EST with:

Medicare updates and plan changes
Veteran-specific benefits
Tips to save on premiums and copays👉 Subscribe to the newsletter here →

💬 Join the Conversation

Have you received a PPO discontinuation letter this year? Or are you a veteran exploring MA-Only options?👇 Share your experience or questions in the comments below!Your feedback might help someone else make a better choice.

Disclaimer: Surfside Medicare Solutions and Dalton Brewster are independent licensed insurance agents and not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Enrollment in any plan depends on contract renewal.