Co-Founder, TermInsuranceBrokers.com, Goldenzweig Financial Group, Las Vegas, Nevada
Yes. Generally, if you're on Medicare Advantage, you can only apply for a Medigap plan during the annual enrollment period (October 15-December 7) because this is the time when you're able to leave your Medicare Advantage plan.
You would be subject to the medical underwriting process (answering the health questions on a Medigap plan application). To buy a Medigap plan without medical underwriting, you would need to qualify for a guaranteed-issue right. In the case of when you have Medicare Advantage, you would have to meet one of the following conditions:
1) You have a Medicare Advantage plan and your plan is leaving Medicare, stops servicing your area, or you move out of the plan's service area. Please note, you have to go back to original Medicare (Part A & B) coverage to qualify for this guaranteed-issue right.
2) You joined a Medicare Advantage plan when you were first eligible for Medicare Part A at age 65 and within the first year of joining, you decide you want to switch to original Medicare (known as a "trial right").
3) You dropped a Medigap policy to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time, have been in the plan less than a year, and you want to switch back (this is another type of "trial right").
4) You leave a Medicare Advantage plan because the company hasn't followed the rules, or it misled you.
These 4 items are from Medicare's website and can be found in your Medicare & You guidebook - copies are available on the Medicare.gov website (I can also e-mail you one if needed).
I hope the information is helpful - please feel free to contact me for assistance with your Medigap coverage including quotes and plan comparisons, and if you have any other questions. Thanks very much.
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If you are 65 or older and have been on Medicare Part B for less than 6 months you can switch to original Medicare and a Medigap.
If you are in your Advantage trial right period, you can switch to Medigap.
If you can pass underwriting requirements, you can switch to Medigap.
You would be subject to the medical underwriting process (answering the health questions on a Medigap plan application). To buy a Medigap plan without medical underwriting, you would need to qualify for a guaranteed-issue right. In the case of when you have Medicare Advantage, you would have to meet one of the following conditions:
1) You have a Medicare Advantage plan and your plan is leaving Medicare, stops servicing your area, or you move out of the plan's service area. Please note, you have to go back to original Medicare (Part A & B) coverage to qualify for this guaranteed-issue right.
2) You joined a Medicare Advantage plan when you were first eligible for Medicare Part A at age 65 and within the first year of joining, you decide you want to switch to original Medicare (known as a "trial right").
3) You dropped a Medigap policy to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time, have been in the plan less than a year, and you want to switch back (this is another type of "trial right").
4) You leave a Medicare Advantage plan because the company hasn't followed the rules, or it misled you.
These 4 items are from Medicare's website and can be found in your Medicare & You guidebook - copies are available on the Medicare.gov website (I can also e-mail you one if needed).
I hope the information is helpful - please feel free to contact me for assistance with your Medigap coverage including quotes and plan comparisons, and if you have any other questions. Thanks very much.