Can I Switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare? (2026)

Direct Answer: Yes, Three Windows Allow the Switch (2026)

Yes. Any Medicare beneficiary enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan can switch to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) during three windows: the OEP (January 1 to March 31, 2026), the AEP (October 15 to December 7, 2026, effective January 1, 2027), or a qualifying Special Enrollment Period. Outside these windows, changes are not allowed without a qualifying life event.

The Medigap Problem: Why Switching Back Is Harder Than It Sounds

Original Medicare covers 80% of most approved services after the 2026 Part B deductible of $283. Without a Medigap supplement plan, you are responsible for the remaining 20% with no out-of-pocket maximum. That exposure can be significant for hospital stays or specialist care. The problem: getting a Medigap plan after leaving Medicare Advantage is not guaranteed in most states.

When you first enrolled in Medicare Part B, you had a 6-month guaranteed issue period during which no Medigap insurer could deny you or charge you more based on health conditions. Once that window closed, guaranteed issue rights only apply in specific situations. Returning to Original Medicare from Medicare Advantage is generally NOT one of those guaranteed issue situations in most states, meaning insurers can apply medical underwriting, deny coverage for preexisting conditions, or charge higher premiums based on your health status.

Nine states offer continuous Medigap open enrollment regardless of when you enroll or what your health history looks like: California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oregon, and Washington. Residents of those states can purchase any Medigap plan year-round without underwriting. If you live in one of the other 41 states, your ability to get Medigap after leaving Medicare Advantage depends on your health status and which insurers will accept you.

The 12-Month Trial Right: Protection for First-Time Medicare Advantage Enrollees

Medicare provides a critical protection called the trial right for people who join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time after turning 65. If this is your first Medicare Advantage plan and you decide within 12 months that you want to return to Original Medicare, you have a guaranteed issue right to purchase any Medigap policy sold in your state. Insurers cannot deny you, charge you more, or apply waiting periods based on health conditions during this trial period.

The trial right also applies to people who dropped a Medigap plan to join Medicare Advantage for the first time and then want to return within 12 months. In that case, you have a guaranteed right to get back the same Medigap plan you had before (or a comparable plan if that specific plan is no longer available). This protection does NOT apply if you have already had Medicare Advantage before and switched back and forth multiple times.

What Happens to Your Drug Coverage When You Switch (Part D)

Medicare Advantage plans typically bundle drug coverage (called MAPD plans). When you return to Original Medicare, you lose that bundled drug benefit and must enroll in a standalone Medicare Part D plan to maintain drug coverage. You can enroll in Part D during the same enrollment window you use to switch. If you do not enroll in Part D when you return to Original Medicare and later decide to join, you may face a late enrollment penalty: 1% of the national base beneficiary premium for every month you went without creditable coverage. In 2026, the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 (set by the Inflation Reduction Act, signed August 2022).

Search and compare Part D plans at medicare.gov/plan-compare. Enter your medications and preferred pharmacy to see which standalone plan covers your drugs at the lowest total cost. Enrollment in Part D alongside Original Medicare is not automatic; you must actively select a plan.

Special Enrollment Periods: When Life Events Let You Switch Outside OEP and AEP

Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) allow you to switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare outside the standard windows when a qualifying life event occurs. Common qualifying events include: your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your service area or stops offering coverage in your county; you move out of your plan's service area to a new location; you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid (dual-eligible status); your plan receives a low-quality rating from CMS (three or fewer stars for multiple consecutive years); or you were misled or deceived by plan marketing materials (an involuntary disenrollment protection). Contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to confirm whether your situation qualifies.

Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage: Key Tradeoffs to Weigh Before Switching

Original Medicare gives you nationwide provider access with no network restrictions. Any doctor, specialist, or hospital that accepts Medicare is in scope. That matters most to people who travel frequently, split time between states, or have complex medical conditions requiring multiple specialists. Original Medicare has no out-of-pocket maximum, which is why Medigap coverage is valuable alongside it.

Medicare Advantage plans often offer $0 premiums, dental, vision, hearing, and fitness benefits that Original Medicare does not cover. However, those benefits come with a provider network, prior authorization requirements, and referral requirements for specialists in HMO-type plans. If the network is adequate for your needs and the extra benefits have real value to you, Medicare Advantage may cost less in total. The decision point is usually: do the extra benefits and lower premiums outweigh the flexibility and provider access of Original Medicare plus Medigap?

How to Switch: Step-by-Step for the 2026 OEP and AEP

Switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare requires you to disenroll from your Advantage plan, which automatically reactivates your Original Medicare coverage (Parts A and B were never actually cancelled, only coordinated through the Advantage plan). The process below covers the standard OEP or AEP pathway. For Special Enrollment Periods, call 1-800-MEDICARE first to confirm your qualifying event and get the specific form or online process for your SEP type.

Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare any time?

No. You can only switch during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31), the Annual Election Period (October 15 to December 7), or a qualifying Special Enrollment Period triggered by a life event such as moving out of your plan's service area or your plan being discontinued. Outside these windows, you cannot change plans unless a qualifying event applies.

Will I automatically get Medigap if I switch back to Original Medicare?

No. Medigap is a separate private insurance policy you must apply for and pay for independently. In most states, insurers can use medical underwriting and decline to cover you based on health conditions if you apply outside a guaranteed issue window. Nine states (CA, CT, MA, ME, MN, MO, NY, OR, WA) offer continuous open enrollment and cannot deny you regardless of health status.

What is the Medicare Advantage trial right and how long does it last?

The trial right is a 12-month protection for people enrolling in Medicare Advantage for the first time after turning 65. If you decide within 12 months to return to Original Medicare, you have a guaranteed issue right to purchase any Medigap plan in your state without underwriting. The protection applies once: it covers your FIRST Medicare Advantage enrollment only.

What happens to my drug coverage when I leave Medicare Advantage?

Your bundled drug coverage through your Medicare Advantage plan ends when you disenroll. You must separately enroll in a standalone Part D drug plan to maintain prescription coverage. Enroll during the same window you use to switch back to Original Medicare. If you skip Part D and try to join later, you face a late enrollment penalty of 1% per month of uncovered time added permanently to your premium.

How much does Original Medicare cost per month in 2026?

The standard 2026 Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month, in addition to any Part A premium (most people pay $0 for Part A if they or their spouse worked 40+ quarters). You also pay the 2026 Part B deductible of $283 annually, then 20% coinsurance with no cap. Add Medigap and Part D premiums for full cost. Higher-income beneficiaries pay more through IRMAA surcharges based on their 2024 income.

Which states let me buy Medigap after leaving Medicare Advantage without underwriting?

Nine states require insurers to sell Medigap to any Medicare beneficiary year-round without medical underwriting: California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oregon, and Washington. If you live in one of these states, returning to Original Medicare from Medicare Advantage carries much lower Medigap access risk.

Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare during the OEP in early 2026?

Yes. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, 2026. During this window, you can switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare, switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or add a standalone Part D drug plan. You can make only one enrollment change during the OEP. Coverage takes effect the first of the month after the plan processes your request.

What qualifies as a Special Enrollment Period to switch mid-year?

Common qualifying events include: your Medicare Advantage plan discontinues coverage in your county; you move to an area outside your plan's service area; you gain or lose dual-eligibility (Medicare plus Medicaid); your plan earns three or fewer stars from CMS for multiple consecutive years; or you were enrolled in the plan because of misleading marketing. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to verify whether your situation qualifies.