Can I Switch from Medicare Advantage to Medicare Supplement (Medigap)?

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Updated: June 3, 2026

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Key Takeaways
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You can switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap during Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) each year.

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Guaranteed issue rights let you buy Medigap without medical underwriting within 63 days of coverage ending.

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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?

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.

Medicare Advantage costs less month to month. But the per-service charges compound quickly for anyone with ongoing health needs and Medigap's higher monthly premium buys cost predictability instead.

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

Medicare Advantage plans carry low monthly premiums. Out-of-pocket costs per service are higher and less predictable.

In our review of 2026 Medigap and Medicare Advantage plan structures, beneficiaries with two or more chronic conditions often paid less under Medigap because per-visit cost-sharing in Medicare Advantage compounds across multiple specialist appointments each year.

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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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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?

Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap has three concrete steps that must happen in the right order: disenroll from Medicare Advantage, return to Original Medicare, then buy a Medigap policy. Miss the 63-day window after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends and you'll likely need to go through medical underwriting. Medigap plans sold after 2005 also don't include prescription drug coverage, so a separate Part D plan is a requirement, not an option.

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    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.

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    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 written notices and correspondence from your Medicare Advantage plan.

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    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 keep 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.

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    Monthly Premiums vs. Per-Service Costs

    The standard Part B premium is $202.90 in 2026, per CMS. Medicare Advantage premiums are lower; cost-sharing rises with each use.

    Rarely seeing doctors? Medicare Advantage's $0 premiums are the better fit.

    Medigap works nationwide. Medicare Advantage HMO plans are local. PPO plans allow out-of-area care at higher cost-sharing.

    People with two or more chronic conditions may pay less under Medigap when per-visit Medicare Advantage costs exceed the monthly premium.

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    Loss of Extra Benefits

    Many Medicare Advantage plans include benefits like dental and vision coverage that Original Medicare and Medigap don't cover. 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.

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    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?

After your Medicare Advantage coverage ends, contact a Medicare-licensed insurance agent or use Medicare.gov to compare plans and apply. In our review of the enrollment process, the step most beneficiaries miss is timing the Part D application to run alongside the Medigap application. Go 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage and a late enrollment penalty applies.

Follow these steps to enroll in Medicare Supplement after leaving Medicare Advantage:

  1. 1
    Disenroll 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.

  2. 2
    Compare 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. 
    Plan G covers Part B excess charges that Plan N excludes. Plan N's monthly premium is lower, but it adds copayments of up to $20 per office visit and up to $50 per emergency room visit, per CMS. For most switchers who see doctors regularly, weigh Plan G's Part B excess charge protection against Plan N's lower premium before choosing.

  3. 3
    Apply 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.

  4. 4
    Enroll 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.

  5. 5
    Provide 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. With that documentation, the insurer can process your Medigap application without medical underwriting.

  6. 6
    Coordinate Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage coverage start dates:

    Ask your Medicare Supplement insurer to start your policy on the same day your Medicare Advantage enrollment ends. Don't cancel your Medicare Advantage plan until you've confirmed your Medicare Supplement coverage begins.

Should You Switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap?

Medigap is the right choice if you have chronic conditions or see multiple specialists each year. Medigap's predictable monthly costs often total less than the per-visit charges in Medicare Advantage, where cost-sharing compounds across frequent appointments. 

Medicare Advantage is the better call if you rarely need specialist care and want the lowest monthly payment. Most Medicare Advantage plans in 2026 carry $0 monthly premiums beyond Part B, per CMS. The trade-off is copayments and coinsurance each time you use care. 

Beneficiaries who split time between states or travel frequently benefit most from switching. Medicare Advantage networks are local. Medigap works with any doctor or hospital that accepts Original Medicare nationwide, so out-of-state care doesn't require prior authorization.

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?

What is the downside to Medigap plans?

Can you switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap without underwriting?

Can you switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap with pre-existing conditions?

Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap during Open Enrollment?

Do doctors prefer Medigap or Medicare Advantage?

Is there a penalty for switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare?

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About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed P&C Insurance Expert, MoneyGeek

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he has produced original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

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