How does Medigap work with Medicare Advantage?
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan it is illegal to be sold a Medigap policy. An insurance agent can not do this, unless you want to switch to Original Medicare. If you want to switch to Original Medicare and buy Medigap the first step is to find out what policies are available. Then, contact your Medicare Advanatge Plan to see if you can disenroll. Find out when your Medicare Advantage Plan ends and inform Medigap unsurer. If an insurance agent tries to sell you Medigap while you have Medicare Advantage report it. Contact your local state insurance office.
You may want to drop your Medigap policy to join a Medicare Advantage Plan. You can not pay for your Medicare Advantage copayments, deductibles, and premiums with your Medigap Policy. Contact your insurance company if you want to cancel your Medigap policy. Most of the time if you drop your Medigap policy to switch to a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can’t switch back.
There is something you can do if you join Medicare Advantage Plan for the first time and you aren’t happy. You have special rights to buy Medigap if you return ro Original Medicare within 12 months of joining. If you had a Medigap policy before you joined you may be able to get the same policy back. In the case of the policy is no longer being available, you can buy another Medigap policy. If you joined a Medicare Advantage Plan when you were first eligible for Medicare, you can choose from a policy within the first year of joining. The policy can no longer have prescription drug coverage even if you had it before, but you may also be able to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.