Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap in 2026
June 22, 2026
What Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap Really Involves
Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap is possible, but it comes with a step most people don't expect: medical underwriting. When you return to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and apply for a Medigap policy, insurers in most states can review your health history, charge higher premiums based on pre-existing conditions, or decline your application entirely.
That doesn't mean you're stuck. If you qualify for guaranteed issue rights — a federal protection that requires insurers to accept you regardless of health — the switch can go smoothly. And even without those rights, people in good health often find coverage. The key is understanding your timing and options before you act.
This guide covers when you can switch, how underwriting works, what to do about prescription drug coverage, and the exact steps to follow in 2026.
Key Dates and Deadlines
When You Can Switch: The Two Annual Windows
Two enrollment periods each year allow you to leave your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare — and from there, apply for a Medigap policy.
Medicare Open Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7)
This is the most commonly used window. You drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare, with coverage effective January 1 of the following year. During this same period you can also enroll in a standalone Medicare Part D plan for prescription drug coverage, so both elections start together.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31)
If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan at the start of the year, this window lets you switch to Original Medicare. Coverage takes effect on the first day of the month after your plan receives your request — so a February request means March 1 coverage.
After returning to Original Medicare through either window, you apply separately for a Medigap policy. That application is subject to medical underwriting unless you have guaranteed issue rights. For a side-by-side look at your choices, see our guide on Medicare Advantage vs supplement plans.
First Year in Medicare Advantage? You Likely Have a Trial Right
If you enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time when you turned 65, federal law gives you a 12-month trial right. During that window, you can return to Original Medicare and buy any Medigap policy sold in your state — with guaranteed issue, meaning no health questions and no possibility of denial. This right expires on your 12-month anniversary in the plan, so act before then if you want to use it.
Medical Underwriting: The Biggest Hurdle When Switching
When you first turned 65 and enrolled in Medicare, you had a six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period during which any Medigap insurer had to accept you regardless of your health. Once that window closed, it doesn't reopen simply because you later joined a Medicare Advantage plan and now want to switch back.
Outside of guaranteed issue situations, Medigap insurers in most states can:
- Ask detailed questions about your health history
- Charge higher premiums based on pre-existing conditions
- Decline your application entirely
Conditions that commonly affect Medigap approval include heart disease, diabetes, COPD, kidney disease, cancer history, and recent hospitalizations. Each insurer applies its own underwriting standards, so outcomes vary — comparing multiple companies matters.
Three states follow their own rules: Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have Medigap frameworks that offer broader protections than federal minimums. If you live in one of these states, check your state insurance commissioner's website before assuming standard underwriting applies.
Understanding the full range of Medicare supplement plans before you apply helps you target the right policy from the start.
How to Switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap
Pick your enrollment window
Decide whether to switch during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (Oct 15–Dec 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan 1–Mar 31). Both allow the switch; the difference is when your new coverage begins.
Notify your Medicare Advantage plan
Contact your current plan to request disenrollment. Your plan is required to confirm the cancellation. Write down the date and any confirmation number you receive.
Return to Original Medicare
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit Medicare.gov to confirm your return to Parts A and B. Verify your effective coverage start date before proceeding.
Enroll in a standalone Part D plan
Original Medicare does not cover most prescriptions. Enroll in a Part D plan at the same time you switch, or within 63 days of losing your Medicare Advantage drug coverage, to avoid a permanent late enrollment penalty.
Apply for a Medigap policy
Contact Medigap insurers in your state. If you have guaranteed issue rights, inform the insurer — they cannot deny you. Otherwise, expect health questions. Plan G and Plan N are the two most popular options in 2026; compare premiums from at least three to five carriers before deciding.
Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: Side-by-Side
| Feature | Medicare Advantage | RecommendedMedigap + Original Medicare |
|---|---|---|
| Provider network | HMO or PPO network required | Any Medicare-accepting provider nationwide |
| Monthly premium | Often $0–$50 | $100–$300+ (varies by plan and state) |
| Out-of-pocket maximum | Required; set annually by CMS | Most plans cover Part A and B cost-sharing |
| Prescription drug coverage | Usually bundled (MAPD plan) | Requires separate Part D plan |
| Referrals required | Often yes (HMO plans) | No |
| Prior authorizations | Common for specialist care and procedures | Not required for Original Medicare-covered services |
| Dental and vision extras | Often included | Not covered; separate plans needed |
Choosing the Right Medigap Plan After Medicare Advantage
Once you've confirmed you can switch, the next decision is which Medigap plan to buy. In most states, two plans dominate new enrollments in 2026.
Medigap Plan G
Plan G covers nearly every Medicare cost-sharing item after your annual Part B deductible (see Medicare.gov for the current deductible amount). You pay a monthly premium to the Medigap insurer, pay the Part B deductible once per year, and then owe essentially nothing else for covered services. It's the most straightforward coverage available to people who don't qualify for the older Plan F.
Medigap Plan N
Medicare Supplement Plan N typically carries a lower monthly premium than Plan G but adds small copays — up to $20 for office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that don't result in hospital admission. For people who rarely need care, Plan N's lower premium can make financial sense. For people with frequent medical needs, Plan G's predictable flat-cost structure is often worth the higher monthly outlay.
Beyond premium cost, review each insurer's Medicare star ratings and customer service history before applying. Premiums for the same standardized plan vary widely by insurer within the same zip code, so comparing multiple carriers is essential.
Common Reasons People Switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap
No network limits
Medigap works with any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare — no referrals, no network tiers, and no prior authorizations for covered services.
Predictable costs
Plan G covers most cost-sharing after the Part B deductible, making your annual out-of-pocket costs far more predictable than an Advantage plan's copay structure.
No prior authorizations
Original Medicare does not require prior authorizations for covered services. Many people switch specifically to avoid authorization delays for specialist care or procedures.
Travel and seasonal living
Plan G and Plan N include foreign travel emergency coverage up to plan limits. Original Medicare also covers you anywhere in the U.S., unlike most Advantage plan networks.
Open specialist access
See any Medicare-accepting specialist without a referral. For people managing multiple conditions, this flexibility often becomes the deciding factor.
Stable, standardized benefits
Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, which can change benefits, networks, and premiums each year, Medigap benefits are federally standardized and remain consistent year to year.
Get free Medicare guidance
Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap involves timing, underwriting, and drug plan decisions all at once. Get plain-language help figuring out what fits your situation — no pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You can only switch during two annual windows: the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31). Outside those windows, you'd need a qualifying Special Enrollment Period — such as moving out of your plan's service area or your plan leaving Medicare — to make a change.
In most states, yes — unless you have guaranteed issue rights. If you're outside your original six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period and don't have a qualifying event, insurers can apply medical underwriting, which means reviewing your health history and potentially denying coverage or charging higher premiums. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin each have their own rules that offer broader protections.
If you enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time when you turned 65, federal law gives you a 12-month window to return to Original Medicare and buy any Medigap policy in your state with guaranteed issue — no health questions, no risk of denial. This right expires on the 12-month anniversary of your Medicare Advantage enrollment, so act before that date if you want to use it.
Yes. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover most prescription drugs. You must enroll in a standalone Medicare Part D plan at the same time you switch, or within 63 days of losing your Medicare Advantage drug coverage. Going more than 63 consecutive days without creditable drug coverage triggers a late enrollment penalty that is added to your Part D premium permanently.
It depends on which enrollment window you use. If you switch during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7), Original Medicare starts January 1 of the next year. If you switch during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31), coverage starts on the first day of the month after your plan receives your switch request.
If one insurer declines your application, you can apply to others — each company sets its own underwriting standards, and outcomes can differ between carriers for the same health history. In some states, programs exist for people who can't qualify through standard underwriting. You can also remain on your Medicare Advantage plan and reapply during a future enrollment window, or wait for a qualifying event that triggers guaranteed issue rights.
Yes. You can return to a Medicare Advantage plan during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7), with coverage beginning January 1. Keep in mind that if you switch back to Medicare Advantage and later want Medigap again, you'll face underwriting a second time without guaranteed issue rights — unless a qualifying event occurs.
There is no penalty for switching plans during the proper enrollment windows. However, if you fail to enroll in a Part D drug plan within 63 days of leaving your Medicare Advantage plan, you will face a permanent late enrollment penalty on your Part D premium. The switch itself is free — missing the drug plan enrollment deadline is what triggers penalties.
Plan G is the most widely chosen Medigap option among new enrollees in 2026. It covers nearly all Medicare cost-sharing after the annual Part B deductible. Plan N is also popular for people who want lower premiums and are comfortable with small copays for office and emergency visits. According to KFF, Plan G became the top-selling Medigap plan after Plan F closed to new enrollees in 2020.