Some Medicare Advantage members nationwide, including in Hawaii, are getting termination letters this fall, and an insurance firm is offering free one-on-one help to decode them.

• Insurance companies are sending termination letters to some Medicare Advantage plan holders starting in October, confusing many recipients who fear they'll lose their current coverage or doctors.
• People with serious health conditions (diabetes, heart disease) who get these letters may qualify for a "guaranteed issue" right, letting them switch to a Medigap supplement plan without being turned down or charged more for their health history.
• Medigap plans pair with original Medicare and work with any doctor who accepts Medicare nationwide, unlike Medicare Advantage plans that rely on limited local networks — a key reason many want to keep their current doctor.
• A Honolulu insurance office (GetToInsurance.com) is offering no-sales, one-on-one appointments, in person or by video for neighbor island residents, to walk people through their letter line by line and explain their options before they decide anything.

Outlook: Expect confusion over these letters to continue through the fall as more people receive them, with free educational consultations positioned as a way to sort out options before enrollment decisions are finalized.