Medicare Advantage has a Disenrollment Period each year from January 1 and ends on Valentine’s Day. During this period you can drop your Medicare Advantage plan and switch to a Medigap plan. Seems simple enough, but there are some things you should know before you dump your Medicare Advantage plan (MA).

Switching to Medigap During the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period

The Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period runs from Jan 1 to Feb 14th each year. During this time you can leave your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare, join a drug plan, and join a Medigap plan. However, you should make sure you are approved by your Medigap plan before enrolling. Here’s what you will want to do if you want to switch to Medigap:

    1) Do NOT disenroll from Medicare Advantage until you are approved for Medigap
    2) Apply for a Medigap plan for a February 1 or March 1 start date
    3) Once approved for Medigap choose your prescription drug plan with a coinciding start date
    4) Once you enroll in your prescription drug plan you will be automatically dropped from your MA plan
    5) You’re all set!

Learn More about Medigap Get a Medigap Quote

Next Steps for Switching to Medigap During MA Disenrollment Period

There are three things to remember when switching to a Medigap plan during the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period. 1) Get a Medigap quote; and 2) Make sure to align your prescription drug plan’s and Medigap’s effective dates, we are experts at making sure you don’t lapse so in coverage, call us before February 12th at 800-930-7956. If the Disenrollment Period does not apply to you there are other ways to switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap.