Let's set the stage. Switching from Medicare Advantage to a Medicare Supplement is really two separate decisions. Medicare controls when you can leave Medicare Advantage. The Medigap insurance company controls whether it will sell you a policy, and outside a few protected situations it is allowed to look at your health.
When you can leave Medicare Advantage
| Window | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open Enrollment | October 15 to December 7, 2026 | Original Medicare starts January 1, 2027 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | January 1 to March 31, 2027 | One change; coverage starts the next month |
| Trial right period | Within 12 months of first joining Medicare Advantage | Comes with a Medigap guaranteed issue right |
| Special Enrollment Periods | Varies | For example, moving out of the plan's area or the plan leaving your county |
When a Medigap company must accept you
Federal law gives you a guaranteed issue right in certain situations, per Medicare.gov. Two of the most common for people leaving Medicare Advantage are:
- You joined a Medicare Advantage plan when you were first eligible at 65 and you leave within the first year. You can buy any Medigap policy sold in Utah.
- You dropped a Medigap policy to try Medicare Advantage for the first time and you leave within 12 months. You can get your old policy back if the same company still sells it, or certain other plans if it does not.
Your plan leaving your county or ending its contract also creates guaranteed issue rights. Medicare.gov says to apply as early as 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends and no later than 63 days after.
If you do not have a guaranteed issue right
Here's the thing. This is where most people get surprised. In Utah, outside of your Medigap open enrollment at 65 and these guaranteed issue situations, a Medigap insurer can ask health questions, charge more, or decline you. That is why the order matters:
- Apply for the Medigap plan first, while you are still on Medicare Advantage.
- Wait for approval in writing, with the start date.
- Then switch during an allowed window by enrolling in a stand-alone Part D plan. Joining a Part D plan moves you back to Original Medicare.
- Line up the dates so your Medigap and Part D start the same day your Medicare Advantage ends.
Do not forget Part D
Medigap does not cover prescriptions. For 2027, Utah has 8 stand-alone Part D plans offered in every county, with monthly premiums from $5.30 to $238 and drug deductibles from $300 to $700, per the CMS 2027 landscape file. Your covered drug costs are capped at $2,400 for 2027.
Which Medigap plans people choose
Most people buying a Medicare Supplement today choose Plan G or Plan N. Plan G leaves you with the Part B deductible. Plan N also leaves the Part B deductible plus some copays for office and emergency visits. Benefits are the same from every company for the same letter; premiums and rate increase history are what differ. See our Medigap page.
Not sure you qualify for a guaranteed issue right? Call us at 801-255-5340 before you cancel anything.
Everything Senior Insurance is a licensed insurance agency and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to a Medicare Supplement any time in Utah?
You can apply for a Medicare Supplement any time, but you can only leave Medicare Advantage during Open Enrollment, the January 1 to March 31 window, or a Special Enrollment Period. Without a guaranteed issue right, the insurer can use health questions.
What is the Medicare Advantage trial right?
If you joined Medicare Advantage when first eligible at 65, or dropped Medigap to try Medicare Advantage for the first time, you have 12 months to switch back to Original Medicare with a guaranteed right to buy a Medigap policy, per Medicare.gov.
Do I need a Part D plan if I switch to Medigap?
If you want drug coverage, yes. Medigap does not cover prescriptions. Utah has 8 stand-alone Part D plans for 2027, and going without creditable drug coverage can mean a late enrollment penalty.
Should I cancel my Medicare Advantage plan before applying for Medigap?
No. Apply for the Medigap policy first and wait for written approval, then switch during an allowed window. Joining a stand-alone Part D plan moves you back to Original Medicare.
Sources
Updated October 26, 2026 by the Everything Senior Insurance Data Desk.