Switching back to Medicare from Advantage
Hello! I have seen some information regarding corporate retiree Medicare Advantage plans having different rules for switching back to regular Medicare + a supplemental policy. If you are on a corporate retiree Medicare Advantage plan, is it true that the potential to have to be applied for Medicare Supplement thru underwriting is not applicable?
Thank you,
Terry Says
Those rules are set by your state of residence, not by a corporate plan. Some states allow you to return to your original supplement regardless of medical conditions, but other states require an underwriting process, meaning you might not get your old Plan G (the most comprehensive plan) back if you return to Medicare.
I am not aware of any corporation offering to pay for a retiree’s Medicare supplement.
Read this link to find out which states have special enrollment periods that a allow a return to your original comprehensive supplement without medical underwriting.
The one exception is that you can switch back to your old supplement in any state within 12 months of switching to Advantage.
So before you switch back to original Medicare, you should either work with an agent or search on Medicare.gov to see what kind of supplement you can get.
Special note: If you want the freedom to see any doctor, use any medical facility, which is what Original Medicare is all about, then it might be worth getting a less comprehensive supplement that leaves you exposed to more out-of-pocket costs — just to have that choice.
