Learn if you can leave Medicare Supplement for an MA plan down the road. Show
Last Updated: Sep 07, 2022 10:34 am  Medigap and Medicare Advantage are the best options for seniors who want to cover some or all of the expenses not covered by Original Medicare. Many people struggle deciding which Medicare plan is right: Medigap or Medicare Advantage? Many of our clients ask, “if I first enroll in Medigap, can I then switch to Medicare Advantage down the line?” We’ve got your answer below. Can You Switch from Medigap to Medicare Advantage?Yes. Not only you can switch from Medigap to Medicare Advantage (MA), but depending on your situation, this may be a smart move for Medicare-eligible seniors. Medigap is typically more expensive than Medicare Advantage, so if you start with Medigap but cannot afford it’s monthly premiums, MA can save you money each month. When to Switch from Medigap to Medicare Advantage?The best (and often only time) to switch from Medigap to Medicare Advantage is during the Open Enrollment Annual Election Period which runs from Oct 15th to Dec 7th. To switch during this time, you would enroll in a MA plan which can only start on Jan 1st of the following year. Once you enroll, it will automatically disenroll you of your Medicare Part D drug plan. You will still need to contact your Medigap plan to tell them you are cancelling, though. Need help switching? Call a Senior65 agent now to discuss your options: 800-930-7956 Learn More about Medicare Advantage Get MA Quote Is Switching from Medigap to Medicare Advantage a Smart Move?If you are about to sign up for the first time and are on the fence between which of the two coverage options you should purchase, we suggest starting with Medigap first. If you start with Medigap and later switch to a Medicare Advantage, you are guaranteed to be approved on any MA plan at the best price. The reverse is not always true. With Medigap, you are only guaranteed enrollment when first eligible or due to a Special Enrollment Event like moving outside your MA service area. So if you start with Medicare Advantage for a few years and then want to switch to Medigap, you usually will first have to answer health questions before being approved. Medigap insurance providers could turn you down or charge you more. Learn about the Medicare Advantage trial right exception. Once again, we recommend that you first start with Medigap. You are guaranteed to be approved AND you can see how it works for you, if you can afford it, and how your health status evolves. Changing to MA is simple and guaranteed. Can I go back to my Medigap plan if I don’t like Medicare Advantage?Yes, but you would have to switch back to the exact same Medigap plan within your first year of your new Medicare Advantage plan. Learn more about trial right switching with Medicare Advantage here. Things You Must Know about Medigap and Medicare Advantage SwitchingBefore you enroll in either you must know:
The best way to learn if switching from Medigap to Medicare Advantage is right for you is to call a Senior65 agent at 800-930-7956. We can help you identify the correct MA plan and help you enroll right over the phone. You can also check out every switching option available and choose one that adapts to your situation. Contact UsCall a Senior65 agent and get your best plan at no additional cost. Click Here Stay in touchSubscribe to be always on top of news on Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, Part D and more! Senior65 believes in your privacy. We will not sell your personal information. A licensed sales representative may contact you regarding Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug, and Medicare Supplement Insurance plans. Why you can trust InsurifyInsurify partners with top insurance companies to provide a comprehensive comparison experience. However, the insurance experts writing our content operate independently of our partners. Check out reviews from over 3,000 satisfied customers, how we make money, our data methodology, and our editorial standards. JJ Starr Written by JJ Starr Insurance Writer J.J. Starr is a health and finance writer with a background in banking, lending, and financial advising. She holds a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance licensure and a master's degree from New York University. Through her writing, she strives to use her decade of experience to help consumers make sound financial choices. Connect with J.J. on LinkedIn. Edited by John Leach Edited by John Leach Insurance Content Editor at Insurify John Leach is an insurance content editor who has worked in print and online. He has years of experience in car and home insurance and strives to make these topics easy to understand for everyone. He has a linguistics degree from UC Santa Barbara. Updated October 29, 2021 Reading time: 5 minutes It’s easy to avoid costly mistakes with the right planning. Choosing between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans is difficult. Many Medicare beneficiaries agonize over the decision. You lose the benefits of one plan for the benefits of another. For example, switching to Medicare Advantage means forgoing your Medigap policy. These decisions can cause a lot of stress. But, just because you switch to a Medicare Advantage plan, doesn’t mean you lose out on Medigap forever. In fact, you get quite a few safety measures to ensure you can always get the right insurance plan for you. In this article, we will go over those safety measures. And we’ll show you the right way to switch back to Original Medicare from a Medicare Advantage plan. Don’t forget: it’s easy to save money on Medicare with the Insurify Medicare comparison tool. Discover plans, compare your options, and find the Medicare plan that’s right for you. Try it now! What’s the Difference Between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage?Original Medicare is a health plan administered by the federal government. It’s also known as Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B,. With Original Medicare, you work with any doctor or healthcare provider accepting Medicare. And you don’t need referrals to see a specialist, so long as that specialist accepts Medicare. You can also add a Medigap policy to your health plan. Medigap is also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance. Medicare Part C, or Medicare Advantage, works in a different way. With Medicare Advantage, you get health insurance through a private health insurance company. That health plan must follow guidelines from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It must offer at least the same coverage as Original Medicare. With Medicare Advantage, you work with doctors and providers within your healthcare network. You may need a Primary Care Physician (PCP) to recommend you to see a specialist. And you may need to follow other network guidelines. However, most Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits. That means coverage and services not available to Original Medicare beneficiaries. You can’t have both Medicare Advantage and Medigap. With either plan, you can add Medicare Part D so long as you don’t already have prescription coverage. Can You Switch Back To Medicare From Medicare Advantage?Yes. You can switch back during the Fall annual election period (AEP). You can switch back sooner if you qualify for a special enrollment period (more on this below). What’s Medigap and What’s the Big Deal About Losing Medigap?Medigap is like buying extended coverage for Original Medicare. Medigap helps you cover out-of- pocket costs of coinsurance, copays, and deductibles. There are several types of Medigap policies to choose from:
* Please note that Medigap Plans C and F are no longer available to new Medicare beneficiaries. If you already have either Medigap plan and you leave the plan, you will not be able to re-enroll. When you first enroll in Medicare, you get a signup period called “guaranteed issue rights.” This means you can enroll in a Medigap plan without medical underwriting. Medical underwriting is the process of figure out a person’s health insurance premium. It’s based on several factors, including their health. It also means that a healthcare insurer can deny coverage to people who don’t meet health standards. Outside of your initial enrollment period, you’re not offered “guaranteed issue rights.” That means you’d be subject to medical underwriting. For people with pre-existing conditions, this means more expensive monthly premiums. Even denial of coverage. Luckily, when you decide to try Medicare Advantage for the first time, you’re given trial rights. These give you time to decide if you like your new health insurance. If you don’t like your plan, you can switch back to Original Medicare and keep your guaranteed coverage. Let’s explore that further. Understanding Your Trial RightsThe first time you enroll in Medicare Advantage you’ll be granted Medigap trial rights. That’s true whether it’s during your initial enrollment period or later. Your Medicare Advantage trial rights extend over is a 12-month window. The window begins the first month of your Medicare Advantage coverage. During that window, you can drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare. You may also re-enroll in your Medigap plan so long as it’s still available. But you’ll need to wait for certain times of the year to switch plans. Want to disenroll from Medicare Advantage and re-enroll in Original Medicare? You’ll need to wait for an Open Enrollment Period. These periods are:
However, you can make the switch outside of these periods if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period ( SEP ). Medicare Advantage Trial Rights and Special Enrollment PeriodIf you decide to switch back to Original Medicare, you can do so without penalty. But only if disenrollment occurs during your Medicare Advantage trial period. Usually, beneficiaries must wait for an Open Enrollment Period. But, if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you can enroll outside of Open Enrollment. Eligibility for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) includes the following events:
As a note: sometimes the Special Enrollment Period is called the “Special Election Period.” Compare Car Insurance Quotes InstantlySecure. Free. Easy-to-use. CYA: Dos and Don’ts of Plan SwitchingDo be clear about the start and end dates of your trial period. Mark these dates on your calendar. It’s also a good idea to put reminders on your calendar like, “ Annual Election Period starts in one month”. Do make time to review your satisfaction with your policy. We recommend reflecting on your policy once every quarter. At the very least, mark a review date on your calendar. It should be at least one month before each Open Enrollment Period begins. On the review date(s), take the time to write about your experience. Record everything that will help you decide if the Medicare Advantage plan is right for you. Do keep a journal of your good and bad experiences with your new health plan. Don’t rely on someone else to remind you about the end of your trial period. Don’t assume your Medigap plan will be there waiting. Plan options change often, and you can’t always rely on a plan being available to you. Before you drop your Medigap, determine if you’ll have the option to re-enroll if you decide to switch back. FAQ: Returning to Original Medicare
Conclusion: Your Medicare Program Should Work for YouIt’s hard to know if Original Medicare with Medigap or a Medicare Advantage plan is better for you. The key to getting Medicare coverage right is to know the rules and follow them. Trying a Medicare Advantage plan has been the right call for millions. But that doesn’t mean it has to be right for you. So when you decide to switch plans, set up a time to your satisfaction. You don’t want to scramble to change back if you decide at the last minute. And you want to keep the protection to switch back without medical underwriting. Enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan can be a great option for you. So long as you make a plan to avoid these plan-switching pitfalls. And don’t forget that the Insurify Medicare comparison tool is always here to help you find the best Medicare plan at the best price. With just your ZIP code, you can uncover plan options and compare them side-by-side. Try it today! Compare Car Insurance Quotes InstantlySecure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Can I switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare?Yes, you can elect to switch to traditional Medicare from your Medicare Advantage plan during the Medicare Open Enrollment period, which runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. Your coverage under traditional Medicare will begin January 1 of the following year.
Can I switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to a Medicare supplement?Medicare Advantage Plans may also offer prescription drug coverage that follows the same rules as Medicare drug plans. If you joined a Medicare Advantage Plan when you were first eligible for Medicare, you can choose from any Medigap policy.
When can I switch to Medicare Advantage?You're newly eligible for Medicare because you turn 65. Sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or a Medicare drug plan. During the 7‑month period that starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65.
What are the disadvantages to a Medicare Advantage plan?Medicare Advantage can become expensive if you're sick, due to uncovered copays. Additionally, a plan may offer only a limited network of doctors, which can interfere with a patient's choice. It's not easy to change to another plan. If you decide to switch to a Medigap policy, there often are lifetime penalties.
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Can you switch back and forth between medicare and medicare advantage
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