Insurers licensed in New Hampshire will now face stricter notification requirements before withdrawing from entire lines of business, including Medicare Advantage, under a new law aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight and consumer protection.
Under the statute, carriers writing fire or casualty insurance must notify the New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) and their appointed agents at least 120 days in advance of a planned exit. For other lines of insurance, such as health or life, the notice period is 90 days unless otherwise directed by existing statutes.
The law also extends to Medicare Part C providers. Insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans must inform the NHID 90 days prior to modifying or terminating their contracts with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or if they intend to pull out of a specific county or significantly alter plan benefits.
The change comes amid growing concern over abrupt insurer withdrawals from the Medicare Advantage market, which left policyholders in New Hampshire and other states scrambling to find alternative coverage with little warning. Previously, insurers were not required to inform the NHID of such decisions.
“This legislation ensures the department can anticipate market shifts and equip consumers with the resources they need to make timely, informed decisions,” said Insurance Commissioner DJ Bettencourt (pictured above). “Our goal is to reduce confusion and increase stability across all lines of coverage.”
While Medicare Advantage is federally regulated, Bettencourt told lawmakers that the line between federal and state oversight is often unclear to consumers, leading to a flood of inquiries when plans are terminated or modified. The NHID also regulates Medicare supplement plans, making coordination critical when carriers change their participation in senior health insurance markets.
Industry groups pushed back on some of the law’s language, particularly a clause requiring notification for “significant modifications” to insurance offerings. The New Hampshire Association of Domestic Insurance Companies argued that the term lacked clarity and did not reflect standard usage in property/casualty lines.
America’s Health Insurance Plans, a national trade group, took issue with the 120-day notice period, urging lawmakers to adopt a uniform 90-day requirement across all lines to better align with federal expectations.
The legislation adds another layer to New Hampshire’s ongoing efforts to balance insurer accountability with regulatory efficiency. Earlier this year, the NHID suspended certain health insurance reporting requirements, including annual utilization reviews and market conduct filings, for 2025 and 2026.
