Why Your Medicare Advantage Plan Might Be More Permanent Than You Think

“Can I just change back to a Medigap plan if I don’t like my Advantage plan?”

Suppose you’re like many of our clients. In that case, you may assume that switching between Medicare Advantage and a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan is easy, especially during open enrollment. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of Medicare.

Every year, we get the same question: “Can I just change back to a Medigap plan if I don’t like my Advantage plan?” Let’s walk through what’s possible—and what may not be.

What Most People Get Wrong About Medicare Enrollment

Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans offer a one-time-only open enrollment period, which happens when:

• You turn 65, or
• You’re newly enrolled in Medicare Part B

During that 6-month window, you can sign up for any Medigap plan without being asked medical questions. After that period ends, Medigap carriers can deny you based on your health history. That’s true even if you’re trying to switch plans during Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period. So yes, you can move from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare during open enrollment. But getting into a Medigap plan is a different story entirely. Unless you qualify for a special circumstance, you’ll likely be subject to medical underwriting, and many carriers do deny applicants.

Understanding the Key Medicare Enrollment Periods

Here’s a breakdown of what each enrollment period does—and doesn’t—allow you to do.

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP):

• 3 months before to 3 months after your 65th birthday
• Applies to Medicare Parts A, B, C (Advantage), and D
• Does not apply to Medigap—Medigap has a separate window

Medigap Open Enrollment:

• A one-time, 6-month window tied to your Medicare Part B start date
• No health questions required
• After this window closes, approval is no longer guaranteed

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7

• You can switch between Medicare Advantage plans
• You can return to Original Medicare
• You cannot automatically enroll in a Medigap plan without underwriting

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP): January 1 – March 31

• You can switch between Medicare Advantage plans
• You can drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare
• You still cannot enroll in Medigap without approval

Are There Any Exceptions?

Yes—certain events may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period or Guaranteed Issue Rights. These include:

• Your Advantage plan stops covering your area
• Your plan’s premium or co-pays increase by 15% or more
• You move out of the plan’s service area
• Your provider or plan terminates their contract

In these cases, you may have a short window to enroll in a Medigap plan without health underwriting.

There’s also a Trial Right provision. The Trial Right provision allows you to:

• Try a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time, and
• Switch back to Medigap within 12 months

However, this only applies once and is only available to first-time Advantage enrollees or those who dropped a Medigap plan within the past year.

Why Many People Choose Medicare Advantage (Even If They’d Prefer Medigap)

Let’s be honest—cost is a significant factor. Most people today don’t have pensions. Many aren’t aware of hybrid pension options, such as guaranteed income annuities, that can help cover medical premiums in retirement. Without a reliable monthly income stream, Medigap’s higher premiums can feel out of reach.

Even clients with significant savings in their 401(k)s often gravitate toward Medicare Advantage due to lower monthly costs. However, those lower costs come with more restrictions—networks, prior authorizations, and unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.

When appropriately structured, a Medigap plan can offer more flexibility, greater predictability, and fewer surprises.

What You Can Do Next

Our role is to help you make confident, informed decisions about Medicare and retirement planning. Here’s how we can support you:

• Review your current Medicare strategy together
• Help you understand which enrollment periods apply to you
• Evaluate whether you qualify for a special enrollment window
• Explore whether a hybrid pension could make Medigap affordable
• Guide you through any underwriting requirements if you’re reapplying for a Medigap plan

Final Thoughts

The Medicare decisions you make around age 65 can have significant impacts on your healthcare coverage and costs. While Medicare Advantage plans may appear more affordable in the short term, the ability to move back to Medigap is limited and often misunderstood. Let’s make sure you have the clarity and confidence you need to avoid regret down the road. If you have questions or would like to schedule a personalized Medicare review, we’re here to help.