Switching From Medicare Advantage to Medigap in Texas: What Seniors Should Know
Yes. You can leave a Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) or, if you already have an Advantage plan, during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31). Buying a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan is a separate step, and in many cases the insurer can ask health questions before it approves you. As a licensed and fully insured Texas insurance agency serving Dallas-Fort Worth since September 2020 and rated 4.9 stars on Yelp and Google, HealthGuys helps Dallas-Fort Worth seniors compare Medicare Supplement plans in Texas.
Two Decisions, Not One
Leaving Medicare Advantage and buying Medigap follow different rules. Enrollment periods govern when you can leave an Advantage plan. Insurer underwriting rules govern whether you can buy a Medigap plan.
You need Medicare Parts A and B to buy a Medigap plan, and Medigap does not include drug coverage. A smooth switch usually follows four steps:
- Confirm when you can leave your Advantage plan.
- Check whether you can buy a Medigap plan without health questions.
- Apply for Medigap first, and match its start date to the end of your Advantage coverage.
- Add a stand-alone Part D plan if you need drug coverage.
When You Can Leave a Medicare Advantage Plan
Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 to December 7
During Annual Enrollment, you can switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare, and changes take effect January 1. This is also the window to change stand-alone Part D plans.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 to March 31
If you already have an Advantage plan, you can make one change during these three months. You can switch to another Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare, and your new coverage generally starts the first day of the month after your plan receives the request. You cannot use this period to join an Advantage plan if you have Original Medicare.
Special Enrollment Periods
Certain events open a special window, such as moving out of your plan’s service area or your plan ending its Medicare contract. If your plan is ending at the close of the year, you generally get an additional special enrollment period. The Medicare.gov enrollment pages list the qualifying events and timelines.
Can You Get a Medigap Plan After Leaving Medicare Advantage?
Outside certain protected windows, Medigap insurers in most states can use medical underwriting. They can ask health questions, review records, and decline coverage or set premiums based on your health. Protected situations include:
- The six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that starts when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B
- A trial right, when you joined an Advantage plan at first eligibility and leave within the first 12 months
- Certain events, such as your Advantage plan leaving Medicare or your service area, which open a limited guaranteed-issue window
The timing is tight. You can usually apply as early as 60 days before your Advantage coverage ends and no later than 63 days after it ends, and Medigap coverage cannot start until the Advantage coverage ends. The Medicare.gov guide to when you can buy Medigap lists each situation.
Texas follows the federal six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period and does not give Medigap holders a yearly window to change plans without health questions. The Texas Department of Insurance Medicare supplement guide explains the state’s rules, and your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program, called HICAP in Texas, offers free counseling.
Do not cancel your Advantage plan until your Medigap application is approved. Original Medicare alone has no annual out-of-pocket limit, and a declined application would leave you exposed.
If a Carrier Declines You
Underwriting guidelines differ by carrier, so a decline from one company does not mean every company will decline you. Ask an agent to compare carriers’ health questions before you apply again. You can also stay in your Advantage plan and revisit the switch at a later enrollment period.
What Changes When You Switch
| Feature | Medicare Advantage | Original Medicare plus Medigap |
|---|---|---|
| Provider choice | Network rules and referrals vary by plan | Any provider that accepts Medicare, with no network |
| Cost protection | Annual out-of-pocket limit | No annual limit under Original Medicare, while Medigap pays some or all cost-sharing depending on the plan letter |
| Drug coverage | Often included | Separate stand-alone Part D plan |
| Dental, vision, hearing | Often included | Generally not included, so you add separate plans |
| Health questions to join | Generally none during an enrollment period | Possible underwriting for Medigap outside protected windows |
| Plan changes | Benefits and networks can change each year | Medigap policies are guaranteed renewable while you pay premiums |
Dental, vision and hearing needs often drive this decision. If you rely on those Advantage extras, compare dental insurance options before you leave.
Medicare Supplement Plans in Texas: Plan G, Plan N and Others
Medigap benefits are standardized by letter, so Plan G from one carrier covers the same benefits as Plan G from another. The differences between carriers are price and service, which is why comparing carriers matters.
Plan G and Plan N are common choices for people who became eligible for Medicare in recent years. Plan N generally trades lower premiums for copayments on some visits, and it does not cover Part B excess charges. Plans C and F are not sold to people who became newly eligible on or after January 1, 2020.
Our guide to Medicare Supplement plan options explains each letter in plain language, and our comparison of Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage covers the tradeoffs in more depth.
If You Already Have a Medigap Plan
Annual Enrollment does not require you to act on a Medigap policy. Use it to review your stand-alone Part D plan, because drug plans change every year.
Texas does not have a Medigap birthday rule, so changing carriers outside a protected window usually means underwriting. If you are thinking about trying Medicare Advantage, learn your rights to return to Medigap first, since they can be limited.
Dallas-Fort Worth Seniors and Original Medicare
As of January 2026, nearly 55 percent of Texas Medicare beneficiaries had Medicare Advantage plans, according to CMS data summarized in healthinsurance.org’s Texas Medicare overview. The rest use Original Medicare, and many of them add a Medigap policy.
Dallas and Fort Worth seniors who compare Medicare Supplement plans in Texas often value the freedom to see any Medicare-accepting provider across the metroplex’s large health systems. That freedom also helps if you travel or split the year between Texas and another state. Confirm that each of your doctors accepts Medicare before you switch.
Long-term planning matters too. Medigap does not pay for custodial care, so many seniors review long-term care insurance at the same time.
Important Medicare Disclosure
HealthGuys does not offer every Medicare plan available in your area. For information on all of your options, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program.
Why Dallas-Fort Worth Seniors Choose HealthGuys
| What We Offer | What It Means for You |
| Licensed Texas Insurance Agents, Since September 2020 | Certified professionals serving Dallas-Fort Worth since 2020 with deep knowledge of local carrier networks and Texas insurance regulations. |
| 4.9 Stars, 2,047 Reviews on Google | Over 2,000 independently verified DFW client reviews confirm our consistent commitment to honest, client-first insurance guidance. |
| Rated 4.9 Stars on Yelp Across DFW | Consistent top ratings on both major review platforms reflect our record of serving DFW clients with integrity and genuine care. |
| Plain-Language Medicare Guidance | We explain enrollment windows, underwriting and plan letters in everyday language, so you know what happens before you apply. |
| Upfront Disclosure | We tell you at the start that we do not offer every plan, and we point you to Medicare.gov and your State Health Insurance Assistance Program for the full picture. |
| Free Consultations, No Obligation to Purchase | Your consultation is completely free. Honest guidance based on what genuinely fits your life and budget, not on commissions. |
| All Coverage Types Under One Roof | Health, dental, life, Medicare, faith-based, and long-term care handled by one licensed agent who knows your full coverage picture. |
| Lifetime Policy Support After Enrollment | We remain available for claims questions, annual reviews, and coverage changes for the full life of every policy. |
Frequently Asked Questions: Switching From Medicare Advantage to Medigap
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap?
Yes, you can leave a Medicare Advantage plan during an eligible enrollment period and return to Original Medicare. Buying a Medigap plan is a separate application, and the insurer may ask health questions unless you have a guaranteed-issue right. Apply for Medigap first and keep your Advantage coverage until the new policy is approved.
When can I leave a Medicare Advantage plan?
You can leave during the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 to December 7, with changes starting January 1. If you already have an Advantage plan, you can also make one change during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31. Special enrollment periods apply in situations such as moving out of your plan’s service area.
Will a Medigap insurer approve me if I have health conditions?
Outside a guaranteed-issue window, insurers may use medical underwriting and can decline coverage or set premiums based on your health. Approval depends on the insurer’s guidelines and your health history. Because carriers differ, comparing several helps, and a licensed agent can explain which questions each application asks.
What is the Medigap trial right?
A trial right lets some people return to Medigap without health questions after they leave an Advantage plan. It generally applies if you joined an Advantage plan when you first became eligible for Medicare at 65, or dropped a Medigap policy to join an Advantage plan for the first time, and you leave within the first 12 months. You can usually apply as early as 60 days before your coverage ends and no later than 63 days after it ends, so confirm your situation on Medicare.gov.
Should I cancel Medicare Advantage before I apply for Medigap?
No. Keep your Advantage plan until your Medigap application is approved and you know the start date, so you do not end up with Original Medicare alone. Medigap coverage cannot start until your Advantage coverage ends, so coordinate the dates so one begins as the other ends.
What if a Medigap insurer declines my application?
A decline from one insurer does not mean every insurer will decline you, because underwriting guidelines differ. An agent can compare carriers’ health questions before you apply again. You can also stay in your Advantage plan and revisit the switch at a later enrollment period or if your circumstances change.
Do I need a Part D plan if I leave Medicare Advantage?
Medigap plans do not include prescription drug coverage. If your Advantage plan included drug coverage, you generally need a stand-alone Part D plan when you return to Original Medicare. Joining a stand-alone Part D plan can also end Advantage coverage that includes drugs, so plan the Part D start date alongside the switch.
What happens to my dental, vision and hearing benefits if I switch?
Many Advantage plans include dental, vision and hearing benefits, but Original Medicare and Medigap generally do not. You can add separate stand-alone dental and vision plans. HealthGuys helps seniors compare dental insurance options alongside a Medicare Supplement plan.
Does Annual Enrollment apply if I already have a Medigap plan?
Medigap policies are not tied to Annual Enrollment, and you do not have to do anything to keep one. It is still a good time to review your stand-alone Part D plan, which can change each year. Switching to Medicare Advantage could end your Medigap coverage, so understand your rights to return before you decide.
Does Texas have a Medigap birthday rule?
No. Some states give Medigap policyholders a yearly window to change plans without health questions, but Texas does not. In Texas, outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period or another guaranteed-issue right, changing Medigap plans or carriers usually involves medical underwriting. The Texas Department of Insurance explains the state’s Medigap rules.
Which Medigap plans can I buy if I turned 65 recently?
Standardized plan letters include A, B, D, G, K, L, M and N, and the benefits within each letter are the same across carriers. Plans C and F are not sold to people who became newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Plan G and Plan N are common choices for newer enrollees.
Can I keep my doctors if I switch to Original Medicare with Medigap?
With Original Medicare and Medigap, you can generally see any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare, without a network or referrals. Confirm that each of your providers accepts Medicare. Many Dallas and Fort Worth providers do, but check before you switch.
What if my Medicare Advantage plan leaves my area or ends?
You generally qualify for a special enrollment period, and you may also have guaranteed-issue rights to buy a Medigap plan during a limited window, often 63 days after your coverage ends. Watch for your plan’s notice and act promptly. Medicare.gov explains the exact timelines for your situation.
Does HealthGuys offer every Medicare Supplement plan in Texas?
No. HealthGuys does not offer every plan available in your area. For information on all of your options, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program. HealthGuys compares the carriers it represents and explains each choice in plain language.
How can DFW seniors get help with a Medicare Supplement switch?
Call HealthGuys at 866-438-4325 for a free, no-obligation consultation. A licensed Texas agent explains your options, timing and application steps for Medicare Supplement plans in Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding communities.
When to Call HealthGuys
If you are thinking about leaving a Medicare Advantage plan, speak with a licensed agent before you cancel anything. As a licensed Texas insurance agency serving Dallas-Fort Worth since September 2020 and rated 4.9 stars on Yelp and Google, HealthGuys explains your options in plain language.
Call HealthGuys at 866-438-4325 for a free, no-obligation consultation about Medicare Supplement plans in Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding DFW communities.