Medicare 2026

Thinking of Dropping Medigap for Medicare Advantage? Here's What to Know About Getting It Back

Switching from Original Medicare with a Medigap policy to a Medicare Advantage Plan is a big decision, and it's one that doesn't always come with a do-over. Federal rules give you some protections if you change your mind, but those protections are time-limited and come with conditions. Here's a plain-English look at what happens to your Medigap when you join Medicare Advantage, and what it takes to return to Original Medicare with supplemental coverage if Advantage turns out not to be the right fit.

Two trial rights worth knowing

Federal law creates two specific "trial right" situations that let you undo a move to Medicare Advantage:

1. You dropped a Medigap policy to try Medicare Advantage for the first time. Within 12 months of joining the Advantage plan, you can return to Original Medicare and get your former Medigap policy back from the same insurance company — as long as that company still sells it.

2. You joined Medicare Advantage (or PACE) when you first became eligible for Medicare at age 65. If you decide within the first year that Advantage isn't for you, you can switch to Original Medicare and buy any Medigap policy sold by an insurance company in your state.

In both cases, if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you can also buy Medigap Plan C or F. People who became eligible on or after that date can buy Plan D or G instead.

If your former Medigap policy is no longer sold under the first trial right, you can buy Medigap Plan A, B, C, D, F, or G from an insurer in your state (again, C and F only for those eligible before January 2020).

The timing is strict

Under either trial right, you can apply for a Medigap policy as early as 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends and no later than 63 days after it ends. CMS notes these rights may last an additional 12 months in certain circumstances; your state insurance department is the right place to confirm whether that applies to you.

If you don't act in that window, Medigap insurers are generally allowed to use medical underwriting. That means you could be charged more based on your health, or turned down altogether. You may not be able to get the same policy back — or in some cases, any Medigap policy. This is the single most important reason to track the dates carefully.

Medigap doesn't cancel itself

A common surprise: most Medigap policies do not cancel automatically when you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan. You have to contact the Medigap insurance company and ask them to cancel.

You're legally allowed to keep a Medigap policy after joining Medicare Advantage, but it won't do what it used to. Medigap can only supplement Original Medicare — it can't pay Medicare Advantage deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, or premiums. Paying two sets of premiums for coverage you can't use is a situation worth avoiding.

It's also illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy while you're enrolled in Medicare Advantage, unless you're in the process of switching back to Original Medicare. (An insurer can sell you a policy if your Advantage coverage will end before the Medigap policy's start date.)

Original Medicare + Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage: neutral trade-offs

Both paths are legitimate, and the right choice depends on what you value.

• Original Medicare + Medigap + a stand-alone Part D plan typically offers broad provider access nationwide (any provider that accepts Medicare) and predictable out-of-pocket costs through the Medigap policy. You pay a Medigap premium and a separate Part D premium.
• Medicare Advantage bundles hospital, medical, and usually drug coverage into one plan, often with additional benefits. Plans use networks and may require referrals or prior authorization, and cost-sharing varies.

Neither is universally "better." Your health needs, travel patterns, preferred providers, and budget all factor in.

Returning to Original Medicare: the drug coverage piece

When you leave Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare, you may also be able to join a stand-alone Medicare drug plan. Having Part D in place matters, because going without creditable drug coverage can trigger a late-enrollment penalty. For 2027, the Part D base beneficiary premium — used in calculating that penalty — is $41.33.

A couple of program-level numbers to keep in mind for 2027: the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and no Part D plan may charge a deductible higher than $700. Annual Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs October 15 – December 7, 2026, with changes effective January 1, 2027. The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% COLA for benefits payable beginning January 2027. The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, had not yet been announced at the time of writing; CMS typically releases them in the fall.

Special rules for people with Medicaid or Extra Help

If you have Medicaid or qualify for Extra Help, you have a monthly Special Enrollment Period to move to Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan, or to switch stand-alone Part D plans. Full-benefit dual-eligible individuals can also join an integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) in any month.

Where can you get help with Medicare questions?

Medicare decisions are personal, and small details matter. For official rules on Medigap, trial rights, and enrollment windows, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048. Your state insurance department can also confirm which Medigap policies are sold in your state and whether any extended trial-right circumstances apply to your situation.