Humana’s sole Medicare Advantage offering in Cheshire County was listed as excluding Cheshire Medical Center in Keene and Dartmouth‑Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon for 2027, according to federal Medicare.gov listings, potentially leaving county Medicare Advantage enrollees without in‑network access to the region’s main hospitals.
A Dartmouth Health spokesperson said the health system is negotiating to join Humana’s Cheshire County Medicare Advantage network and expressed expectation that the hospitals will be in‑network for 2027 once the agreement is complete.
“We expect Cheshire and all Dartmouth Health system members to be in‑network with Humana Medicare Advantage for 2027, pending completion of the agreement,” the Dartmouth Health spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that until both parties finalize and sign an agreement, Cheshire Medical Center cannot be listed as an in‑network provider in the plan’s directory. Representatives from Humana were not available for comment by late Friday morning, the reporting outlet said.
what the listings mean for patients
The federal Medicare comparison tool showed the Humana plan available in Cheshire County without Dartmouth Health hospitals listed as in‑network for 2027. The health system and local reporting noted that a similar breakdown stems from a contractual dispute that kept Dartmouth Health out of Humana’s Medicare Advantage network in 2026.
State and local reporting said that if the hospitals remain out of network, seniors enrolled in Humana’s Medicare Advantage plan could face significantly higher out‑of‑pocket costs for hospitalizations, specialty care and diagnostic testing, or need to travel farther for in‑network services. For people already receiving care at Cheshire Medical, finding new in‑network specialists could be difficult, particularly for specialty services.
timing and next steps
The Medicare open enrollment season runs through Dec. 7, with benefits under new plans taking effect on Jan. 1. Dartmouth Health said there is no timeline for completing the Humana agreement.
- Medicare.gov listed the Humana plan without Dartmouth Health hospitals as in‑network for 2027.
- Dartmouth Health said it is negotiating to join Humana’s Cheshire County network and expects an agreement.
- The Medicare open enrollment period runs through Dec. 7, and plan benefits begin Jan. 1.
