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Ms. Toad

(38,868 posts)
9. You generally have a one-time opportunity to sign up for a Medigap/Supplement plan.
Sun May 31, 2026, 12:58 AM
Yesterday

If you skip it (1) no insurance company is required to issue you a Medigap/Supplement plan and (2) if they choose to issue the plan they can set the fee based on your health/age/etc. at the time you try to switch. (There are a few states which offer a bit more protection - but not many)

So you can drop Medicare Advantage, and rely on basic Medicare plan (which covers 80% of your expenses). You will be on the hook for the other 20% - or - if a company chooses to offer you a Medigap/Supplement plan your costs will almost certainly be significantly higher than if you had made the choice when you started Medicare.

It is not well known, and the government is misleading. You have to dig pretty deeply to find the information I've summarized above - because they imply that you can always switch back to Medicare without expressly stating that you are only legally entitled to the version of Medicare which covers 80% of the costs - not the combination most people think of as traditional Medicare (Medicare + Medigap/Supplement)

Recommendations

10 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Absolutely! buzzycrumbhunger Saturday #1
I've had an advantafe plan for ten years and didn't know this. How can they prevent me from switching? FadedMullet Saturday #2
you can switch back to regular Medicare Skittles Saturday #5
Plan B is allowed to do "medical underwriting," nilram Yesterday #8
You generally have a one-time opportunity to sign up for a Medigap/Supplement plan. Ms. Toad Yesterday #9
It's not that you can "never" go back buzzycrumbhunger Yesterday #11
I think you mean Plan C dflprincess Yesterday #13
When I was about to turn 65, I was inundated with mail ads for Medicare Advantage Wednesdays Saturday #3
I'm 76, and I still get those ads occasionally. ShazzieB Yesterday #15
Same, and it wasn't just mail ads. GoCubsGo 20 hrs ago #43
Yes, we've gotten them at my house... inundated is right. I can't imagine how much money is wasted on these mailers LymphocyteLover 17 hrs ago #50
I still get a ton of calls even though I use a regular Medicare plan and a schedule g supplement LetMyPeopleVote 17 hrs ago #52
I agree, but they have made regular Medicare unaffordable for a lot of people Skittles Saturday #4
Gods, yes! buzzycrumbhunger Yesterday #12
it's all a racket Skittles Yesterday #17
The biggest pisser? buzzycrumbhunger Yesterday #22
oh wow Skittles Yesterday #24
My traditional Medicare is my biggest budget expense by far. GoodRaisin Yesterday #23
yup Skittles Yesterday #25
Bull OhioBack2Blue Yesterday #28
why not just say single payer Skittles Yesterday #29
I think its because scrapping Medicare Johonny 21 hrs ago #42
There's a possibility that this admin will channel everyone into Advantage plans... allegorical oracle 17 hrs ago #48
Traditional Medicare is far from "wrecked" Dave says 17 hrs ago #53
This message was self-deleted by its author Emile Yesterday #33
Less than buy-your-own. (nt) ret5hd 18 hrs ago #47
Buzzy, are you referring to Advantage? Dave says 19 hrs ago #44
That's the worst part imo. ShazzieB Yesterday #16
I had a landlord several years ago, who said she had changed her mom's health plan to one of those... C Moon Yesterday #6
Medicare has a trust fund? n/t aggiesal Yesterday #7
Switching Medicare options after you are already on it can be done at the same time of year that other switches summer_in_TX Yesterday #10
If it was designed to destroy Medicare, why would President Clinton sign it into law? MichMan Yesterday #14
LOL Skittles Yesterday #18
Good question Hope22 Yesterday #19
Republicons held the house and senate in 1997... OhioBack2Blue Yesterday #31
+1 leftstreet 23 hrs ago #37
honestly this describes most Democrats but they are still 1,000 better than Republicons LymphocyteLover 17 hrs ago #49
This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 Yesterday #20
? Skittles Yesterday #26
This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 Yesterday #27
try online Skittles Yesterday #30
This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 18 hrs ago #45
OK something ain't right Skittles 17 hrs ago #54
This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 16 hrs ago #55
"deadbeats on Medicare"? Skittles 16 hrs ago #56
This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 16 hrs ago #59
same answer as two years ago - and two years before that - and ... stopdiggin Yesterday #21
Once again, thanking God for my union. Scrivener7 Yesterday #32
Same here gab13by13 Yesterday #35
My wife is delighted with parts A/B plus supplemental plan G Shrek Yesterday #34
We've had a good experience so far babsbunny Yesterday #36
And AARP is a partner/investor in the UnitedHealth Advantage scam Ruby the Liberal 22 hrs ago #38
My ex employer mandates a single Medicare Advantage HMO plan for all its US retitees. I pay $0 into it. So, sinkingfeeling 22 hrs ago #39
That is bad advice for a huge number of people. MineralMan 21 hrs ago #40
If it gives people pause I am glad I posted it. applegrove 18 hrs ago #46
$600 Per Month ProfessorGAC 16 hrs ago #58
I have an Allina Aetna Advantage plan. MineralMan 12 hrs ago #62
Omg, Chris is against MA?!? THE Chris,?!? gulliver 21 hrs ago #41
I had an advisor help me when I turn 65 LetMyPeopleVote 17 hrs ago #51
In order to save Medicare, should eliminating MA be a campaign issue in 2028? MichMan 16 hrs ago #57
Original Medicare and a good plan G supplement are the best. Desert grandma 16 hrs ago #60
The only exception is if it is provided IbogaProject 15 hrs ago #61
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