What if I have a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy?

What if I have a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy?

If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may not buy Medigap. However, if you have an existing Medigap policy, there are several exceptions (depending on the state) that may let you keep this policy. For example, if you already had a Medigap plan when joining an MSA, you can keep your Medigap policy and use it for prescription drug coverage. Check with your State Insurance Department if you want to keep a Medigap policy and join a Medicare Advantage Plan. You can’t use Medigap to pay your Medicare Advantage Plan copayments, deductibles, and premiums.

If you want to cancel your Medigap policy, contact your insurance company. In most cases, if you drop your Medigap policy to join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may not be able to get the same policy back. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan already, it’s illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy unless you’re switching back to Original Medicare. If you aren’t planning to leave your Medicare Advantage Plan, and someone tries to sell you a Medigap policy, report it to your State Insurance Department.

If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan for the first time and you aren’t happy with the plan, you have a “trial right” under federal law to buy a Medigap policy and a separate Medicare drug plan if you return to Original Medicare within 12 months of joining the Medicare Advantage Plan.

• If you had Medigap before you joined, you may be able to get the same policy back if the company still sells it. If it isn’t available, you can buy another policy.
• If you joined a Medicare Advantage Plan when you were first eligible for Medicare (and you aren’t happy with the plan), you can choose from any Medigap policy when you switch to Original Medicare within the first year of joining.
• Some states provide additional special rights to buy a Medigap policy.

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