Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap
May 20, 2026
Quick Answer: Switching from Advantage to Medigap
You can leave Medicare Advantage during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15–Dec 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan 1–Mar 31). Going back to Original Medicare is easy — but buying a Medigap plan often requires medical underwriting unless you're inside a guaranteed-issue window (trial right, plan termination, or certain state-specific rules).
Switch-back questions to think through
- Will I be accepted for a Medigap plan?
- Outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment at 65 (or a guaranteed-issue trigger), insurers can use medical underwriting. Approval and pricing depend on your health.
- What is a "trial right"?
- If you joined an Advantage plan when first eligible for Medicare and switch back within 12 months, you typically have a guaranteed right to buy specific Medigap plans without underwriting.
- Do some states make switching easier?
- Yes. States like NY, CT, MA, and ME offer continuous or annual Medigap open enrollment with no health questions — rules vary by state and change over time.
- Will I lose my Advantage extras?
- Yes — switching means giving up bundled dental, vision, hearing, and OTC benefits. You can buy stand-alone dental/vision or use ancillary coverage.
- What about Part D drug coverage?
- Original Medicare doesn't include Part D. You'll want to add a stand-alone Part D plan during the same switch window to avoid coverage gaps and penalties.
Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap.
You can switch, but the rules differ. Here is when you can, and what the underwriting trap looks like.
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When you can switch
- Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7. You can drop Advantage and return to Original Medicare. New plan starts January 1.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP): January 1 – March 31. If you are currently on Advantage, one chance to switch to Original Medicare + Part D.
- Special Enrollment Period (SEP): Qualifying events like moving out of the plan's service area.
See our switching guide for more on enrollment windows.
The Medigap underwriting trap
Going from Advantage back to Original Medicare is easy. But adding a Medigap policy after you have been off Medigap is harder — most states allow Medigap carriers to use medical underwriting outside your initial Medigap Open Enrollment Period (the 6 months that start when you are 65 and have Part B).
That means: if you switched to Advantage at 65 and now want Medigap at 70, you may face higher premiums or denial based on health.
Exceptions:
- A handful of states have year-round guaranteed-issue rules (e.g., Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New York).
- Birthday rule states (California, Oregon, etc.) let you switch Medigap plans during a window near your birthday.
- Federal "trial right" if you joined Advantage when first eligible and want to switch back within 12 months.
What to do before switching
- Confirm your state's Medigap rules (call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program — SHIP)
- Get Medigap quotes BEFORE you drop Advantage, so you know what you can actually get
- Make sure your Part D plan is in place for the same start date
- Verify your doctors accept Original Medicare