Can You Have Medicare Advantage and Medigap at the Same Time?

This is one of the most common Medicare questions we hear at Summit Benefits Group — and the answer is no. You cannot use a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time.

Here is why, and what it means for your planning.

Why You Cannot Have Both

Medigap and Medicare Advantage serve different roles in the Medicare system, and they are structurally incompatible:

• Medigap works with Original Medicare (Parts A and B). After Medicare pays its share, Medigap helps cover the remaining costs.
• Medicare Advantage is an alternative way to receive your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits through a Medicare-approved private plan. You still have Medicare, but your benefits are administered by the plan rather than paid directly by Original Medicare.

Medigap is designed to supplement Original Medicare cost sharing. When you receive your Part A and Part B benefits through a Medicare Advantage plan, Medigap does not work with that coverage structure — there is no Original Medicare cost sharing for it to supplement. In fact, it is illegal for an insurance company to knowingly sell you a Medigap policy while you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.

What If You Currently Have Both?

If you enrolled in Medicare Advantage while still holding a Medigap policy, the Medigap insurer may continue to collect premiums — but the policy will not pay benefits while you are on Advantage. This is money lost.

If this describes your situation, contact your Medigap insurer to cancel the policy. Or better yet, talk to Summit Benefits Group to review your coverage and make sure everything is lined up correctly.

• Medicare Advantage and Medigap are mutually exclusive — you must choose one path or the other.
• Medigap only works with Original Medicare — it cannot supplement a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Switching from Advantage to Medigap may require medical underwriting — in Kentucky, this means your health status could affect availability and pricing.

Can You Switch From One to the Other?

Yes, but with important caveats:

Switching from Medigap to Medicare Advantage: You can drop your Medigap plan and enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Enrollment Period. This switch is straightforward.

Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap: You can leave your Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare during certain enrollment periods. However, purchasing a new Medigap policy after that switch may involve medical underwriting in Kentucky, meaning the insurer can evaluate your health and potentially charge more or deny coverage.

There are limited circumstances where you have guaranteed-issue rights to purchase Medigap without underwriting (for example, if you are within 12 months of first joining a Medicare Advantage plan when you turned 65). These situations are specific and time-limited.

This is exactly the kind of nuance where talking with an advisor can prevent costly mistakes. Summit Benefits Group reviews these scenarios with Kentucky clients before any switch.

Making the Right Choice the First Time

Because switching from Advantage to Medigap can be complicated, it is worth taking the time upfront to understand both paths and choose the one that aligns with your long-term needs.

Consider:

• How important is provider flexibility to you?
• Are you comfortable with network-based care?
• How do your prescription costs compare between the two paths?
• What is your tolerance for potential out-of-pocket costs?

Neither path is wrong — but choosing the one that fits you best from the start can save headaches later.

Related Reading

Since the two cannot be combined, the real decision is which path fits — Medicare Advantage vs Medigap: which fits works through that choice, and our Advantage vs Medigap page summarizes the differences. For how supplemental coverage behaves on its own, see Medigap.

Understanding how Medigap and Medicare Advantage interact is essential for making a smart Medicare decision. At Summit Benefits Group, we lay out both paths clearly so you can see the tradeoffs and make a choice that fits your situation.