What is true about a member of a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan who wants to enroll in a Medicare supplement insurance plan?

A member of a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan who wishes to enroll in a Medicare supplement insurance plan—commonly called Medigap—will not automatically be disenrolled from their MA plan. This is significant because a member can evaluate their options without the pressure of losing their current coverage immediately.

It is important to understand that Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare and often include additional benefits. Meanwhile, Medigap policies are designed to complement Original Medicare, covering costs such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Therefore, a member who wants to switch from an MA plan to a Medigap plan must first disenroll from the MA plan voluntarily. This disenrollment process can occur during specific enrollment periods, and members must ensure they are making the change thoughtfully, considering factors such as therapy providers and benefits before proceeding.