Medigap or Advantage Plan for supplementing Medicare Parts A & B (2024)

WaterburyBob

quote:

Originally posted by snoris:
My wife and I have the Advantage plan and are doing well with it so far (I'm 68, she's 72).

Now---if we want to change to a Plan G, can we do so, or are we now stuck with the Advantage plan?

We're in Texas.

It's technically possible, but I've heard it can be difficult to go to G from Advantage.

_{"If Gun Control worked, Chicago would look like Mayberry, not Thunderdome" - Cam Edwards}

CoolRich59

quote:

Originally posted by snoris:
My wife and I have the Advantage plan and are doing well with it so far (I'm 68, she's 72).

Now---if we want to change to a Plan G, can we do so, or are we now stuck with the Advantage plan?

We're in Texas.

I defer to others who are more knowledgeable, but my understanding is that if you want to move from an Advantage plan to a Medigap plan, you can do so BUT you are subject to underwriting. The underwriter may decline to offer you coverage, or may offer coverage at a higher premium.

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“Civilization is not inherited; it has to be learned and earned by each generation anew; if the transmission should be interrupted for one century, civilization would die, and we should be savages again." - Will Durant

220-9er

You can, but you have to qualify, meaning any significant health problems will probably keep that from happening.

I think there is a rule that when you move to a new area there is a one time exemption.

That said, I'm not an expert so I'd ask someone in the business that you trust.

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Avoid buying ChiCom/CCP products whenever possible.

ZSMICHAEL

quote:

I defer to others who are more knowledgeable, but my understanding is that if you want to move from an Advantage plan to a Medigap plan, you can do so BUT you are subject to underwriting. The underwriter may decline to offer you coverage, or may offer coverage at a higher premium.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Correct. No one time exemption at all.

pace40

Not much love here for Advantage plans but I'm pretty happy with mine. It's provided by the same company I had before Medicare and the same docs and facilities are covered. Scripts, dental, and vision are nice perks. (I could do without the standard Medicare prescription black hole though.)

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Pace

h2oys

Actually there are 9 situations wherein you can a Guarantee Issue Medicare Supplement plan, meaning no health questions.

Some of them also apply to moving from a Medicare Advantage Part C plan to a traditional Medicare Supplement plan.

I have a 3-page document produced by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (ABCBS) that I know would apply to residents of MO and believe would apply to residents of other states as well.

More than happy to email to any of you should you send me an email shown in my profile. Please be sure to have "Sig Forum" in the subject line as I get a lot of spam. In the meantime, here are horrible pics taken of my computer screen:

ZSMICHAEL

h2oys

Good question ZSMichael!

I only work with ABCBS Med Supp plans so I don't know if what ABCBS does is what other Med Supp carriers do as well.

However, one would think if ABCBS does it that either means it became a governmental requirement, or, they did so for a competitive edge.

ZSMICHAEL

h2oys

You're welcome!

The only reason why Medicare Advantage (MA) Part C plans exist at their super low price point, is under Prez Bush administration, they decided the Feds would help create and subsidize MA plans.

Once the Feds cut the subsidy, MA plans will look to their enrollees to make up the difference.

sse