Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) are two distinct ways to get coverage beyond Original Medicare, which covers hospital care through Part A and medical services through Part B but leaves cost gaps like deductibles and coinsurance. You can't have both Medicare Advantage and Medigap at the same time, per Medicare.gov. Understanding how each works is the first step before switching.
Can I Switch from Medicare Advantage to Medicare Supplement (Medigap)?
Updated: February 27, 2026
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Key Takeaways
You can switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap during Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) each year.
Guaranteed issue rights let you buy Medigap without medical underwriting within 63 days of coverage ending.
Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap requires returning to Original Medicare and enrolling in separate Part D coverage.
What Is Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Insurance?
Also known as | Part C | Medicare Supplement Insurance |
How it works | Replaces Original Medicare through a private, Medicare-approved plan | Supplements Original Medicare by covering your share of costs |
What it covers | Part A, Part B and usually Part D in one bundled plan | Gaps in Original Medicare: coinsurance, copayments and deductibles |
Network | Most plans limit you to in-network doctors and hospitals | Any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare, anywhere in the U.S. |
Drug coverage | Usually included | Not included (plans sold after 2005 exclude prescription drugs) |
Extra benefits | May include vision, dental and hearing coverage | Usually none beyond Medicare cost-sharing |
Premiums | Often $0 beyond your Part B premium, but out-of-pocket costs vary | Monthly premium in addition to Part B; out-of-pocket costs are more predictable |
Plan standardization | Plans vary by insurer | Standardized by letter (Plan G, Plan K, etc.); benefits are identical across insurers for the same plan letter |
When Can You Switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap?
Medicare Advantage members can switch to Medigap during Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7), Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 to March 31) or through guaranteed issue rights within specific timeframes. You must drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare before Medigap coverage can start. It's illegal for Medigap companies to sell you a policy while you're enrolled in Medicare Advantage.
Medicare Open Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7)
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7 each year and lets you drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and switch to Original Medicare. Coverage starts January 1.
Within 63 days of your Medicare Advantage coverage ending, guaranteed issue rights let you buy a Medigap policy. Insurance companies must sell you Medigap Plans A, B, D, G, K or L without medical underwriting during this timeframe. Plans C or F are available if you became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31)
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs between January 1 and March 31 annually, letting current Medicare Advantage members switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan or return to Original Medicare. Guaranteed issue rights for Medigap apply within 63 days after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends if you switch to Original Medicare during this period.
Trial Right Period (12 Months After First Joining Medicare Advantage)
The trial right period gives you 12 months after joining your first Medicare Advantage Plan to drop coverage and return to Original Medicare with guaranteed Medigap issue rights. If you dropped a Medigap policy when first joining Medicare Advantage, the same insurance company must sell it back to you without medical questions if you apply within 12 months. Only your first Medicare Advantage enrollment qualifies for this right.
Special Enrollment Periods
Special Enrollment Periods let you leave Medicare Advantage and buy Medigap outside regular enrollment windows when certain situations occur. Your plan leaving Medicare, moving out of your service area, misleading you or violating rules triggers these periods. You must apply for Medigap under guaranteed issue rights within 63 days after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends. Keep all termination notices and claim denials as proof for your Medigap application.
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT PLAN AVAILABILITY
Medigap Plans C and F have restricted availability based on Medicare eligibility dates. People who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, can't buy Plans C and F. Earlier eligibility before January 1, 2020, still allows you to buy Plans C or F if you haven't yet enrolled. Plans D and G are available instead for people new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. These plans provide the same benefits but don't cover the Part B deductible.
What Should You Consider Before Switching to Medigap?
The switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap requires careful planning around timing, costs and coverage gaps. You must disenroll from your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare before buying a Medigap policy. The transition involves medical underwriting unless you qualify for guaranteed issue rights, and you'll need standalone Part D drug coverage since Medigap policies sold after 2005 don't include prescription drugs.
Application Deadlines and Guaranteed Issue Rights
You have 63 days after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends to apply for a Medigap policy with guaranteed issue rights in qualifying situations. Medigap coverage can't start until your Medicare Advantage plan coverage ends. Missing this 63-day window means you'll need to go through medical underwriting, which can result in higher premiums or coverage denial based on your health history.
Contact your State Insurance Department to learn about additional protections beyond federal guaranteed issue rights. Some states offer extended enrollment periods or require insurers to sell Medigap policies to people under 65 with disabilities.
Medical Underwriting and Pre-Existing Conditions
Insurance companies can use medical underwriting to review your health history and deny coverage or charge higher premiums if you don't have guaranteed issue rights. Coverage for pre-existing conditions may have a waiting period of up to six months without guaranteed issue protection. Keep all letters, notices and emails from your Medicare Advantage plan to prove your guaranteed issue rights.
Prescription Drug Coverage Gap
Medigap policies sold after 2005 don't include prescription drug coverage. You must enroll in a standalone Medicare Part D plan to maintain drug coverage. The 2026 Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100, and late enrollment penalties apply if you go 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage.
Monthly Premiums vs. Per-Service Costs
The Part B premium ($202.90 in 2026), your Medigap premium and your Part D premium require separate payments. Medicare Advantage plans have lower monthly premiums but higher cost-sharing when you use services, while Medigap plans charge higher monthly premiums but offer more predictable costs per visit. Review your expected health care usage for 2026 to determine which cost structure works better for your situation.
Loss of Extra Benefits
Many Medicare Advantage plans include dental, vision, hearing and wellness benefits that aren't covered by Original Medicare and Medigap. You'll lose these extra benefits when switching to Medigap and would need to buy separate coverage or pay out-of-pocket for these services.
Provider Network Changes
Original Medicare with Medigap allows you to see any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare nationwide without referrals or network restrictions. In contrast, Medicare Advantage plans limit you to specific provider networks. Verify your current doctors accept Original Medicare before switching, as some providers only work with Medicare Advantage plans.
How Do You Enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan After Leaving Medicare Advantage?
You enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan by submitting an application to a private insurance company after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends. Contact insurance companies directly, work with an insurance agent or use Medicare.gov to compare plans and apply. Follow these steps to enroll in Medicare Supplement after leaving Medicare Advantage:
- 1Disenroll from Medicare Advantage during Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7):
Drop your Medicare Advantage plan during this period if you want coverage to end December 31. When your Medicare Advantage coverage ends, Medicare automatically enrolls you in Original Medicare. You can also disenroll if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Situations include when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves the market or you move outside the service area.
- 2Compare Medicare Supplement plans:
Private insurance companies in your state sell Medicare Supplement plans with varying premiums, but all Medicare Supplement plans with the same letter offer identical benefits regardless of which company sells them. Use Medicare's Plan Finder at Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE to compare options. Medicare Supplement Plans G and N are the most popular choices for new Medicare beneficiaries as of 2026.
- 3Apply for Medicare Supplement within 63 days:
Submit your Medicare Supplement application no more than 63 days after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends. While you can apply before your coverage ends, Medicare Supplement coverage can't start until your Medicare Advantage plan terminates. Keep all letters and notices from your Medicare Advantage plan as proof of coverage termination. In certain circumstances, your guaranteed issue rights may extend up to 12 months. Contact your State Insurance Department for details.
- 4Enroll in standalone Part D prescription drug coverage:
Because Original Medicare doesn't include prescription drug coverage, you'll need a separate Medicare Part D plan to cover medications. Enroll during Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) or within 63 days of losing your Medicare Advantage coverage to avoid penalties. The Part D late enrollment penalty equals 1% times $39 (the 2026 national base premium) times the number of months without creditable drug coverage.
- 5Provide Medicare Advantage termination proof for guaranteed issue rights:
Medicare Supplement insurance companies require documentation showing your Medicare Advantage coverage ended with your application. Termination letters or notices from your Medicare Advantage plan verify your guaranteed issue rights, allowing insurance companies to process Medicare Supplement applications without medical underwriting.
- 6Coordinate Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage coverage start dates:
To avoid gaps in coverage, ask your Medicare Supplement insurer to start your policy when your Medicare Advantage enrollment ends. Don't cancel your Medicare Advantage plan until you've confirmed your Medicare Supplement coverage begins. Proper timing between Medicare Advantage termination and Medicare Supplement activation creates continuous health coverage.
Bottom Line
Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) lets you switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap with guaranteed issue rights for 63 days after your coverage ends. The switch requires returning to Original Medicare first, then buying a Medigap policy and enrolling in a separate Part D for prescription drug coverage.
Can You Switch From a Medicare Advantage Plan to a Medigap Plan: FAQ
The switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap involves enrollment timing, underwriting rules and cost structures. We've answered frequently asked questions about this transition:
Can I drop my Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare?
Yes, you can drop your Medicare Advantage plan during Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) or Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 to March 31). Medicare automatically enrolls you in Original Medicare when your Medicare Advantage coverage ends. You can also switch during Special Enrollment Periods.
What is the downside to Medigap plans?
Medigap plans charge higher monthly premiums than Medicare Advantage plans and don't include prescription drug coverage, dental, vision or hearing benefits. You'll pay the Part B premium ($202.90 in 2026), a separate Medigap premium and a Part D premium. Medical underwriting can deny coverage or increase costs without guaranteed issue rights.
Can you switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap without underwriting?
Yes, if you have guaranteed issue rights. You can buy Medigap without medical underwriting within 63 days after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends during Open Enrollment or through Special Enrollment Periods. The trial right period allows 12 months after joining your first Medicare Advantage plan to switch without underwriting.
Can you switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap with pre-existing conditions?
You can switch with pre-existing conditions if you have guaranteed issue rights. Insurance companies can't deny you or charge more within 63 days of Medicare Advantage coverage ending. Without guaranteed issue rights, insurers use medical underwriting and apply waiting periods up to six months for pre-existing conditions.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap during Open Enrollment?
Yes, drop your Medicare Advantage plan during Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) to end coverage December 31. You have 63 days after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends to apply for Medigap under guaranteed issue rights. Medigap coverage can't start until your Medicare Advantage plan terminates.
Do doctors prefer Medigap or Medicare Advantage?
Most doctors accept both Original Medicare with Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans. Original Medicare with Medigap allows access to any doctor accepting Medicare nationwide without network restrictions. Medicare Advantage plans limit you to specific networks. Verify your doctors accept Original Medicare before switching, as some providers work only with Medicare Advantage plans.
Is there a penalty for switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare?
No penalty applies for switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare. However, you'll pay a Part D late enrollment penalty if you go 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage. The penalty equals 1% times $39 (the 2026 national base premium) times the number of months without coverage.
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Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
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