Only one or two states allow you to go back to original Medicare, without underwriting, once you sign on to advantage plans. So in most cases, once you leave original Medicare...you are locked into advantage plans for life.
This is a HUGE and COMPLICATED thing. I have read all the comments above this one.
1) Advantage is presently about 38% of all 65+ health coverage. That number is growing. Medigap is NOT the remaining 62%. A large number of folks are on Medicaid, VA, TriCare, etc. Those other categories add up. Advantage will likely overtake Medigap within 10 yrs.
2) Don’t presume you can use Medigap when you “travel”. Yes, no question, if you travel somewhere and break your leg, you’re covered. But if you have a Medigap policy in Iowa with premiums based on Iowa costs and think you can spend 6 months winter in Florida and get covered there, you’re taking a risk. Asking for repeated treatment in the more expensive Florida locale will eventually get noticed and . . . risky.
3) If you travel and break a leg, Advantage will cover you for that. But if you try the 6 month winter thing with Advantage, the same issue will arise. You will need to change your coverage to a local Advantage carrier, and back again to Iowa. Same thing with Medigap, with varied premiums.
4) General rule of thumb, THERE IS NO GENERAL RULE OF THUMB. Advantage is not “the way to go”. Medigap is not “the way to go”. Medigap premiums will add up steeply. I saw some low numbers above which cannot be right. To evaluate premiums you have to look at plans with $0 deductible. Varying both numbers creates apples and oranges. Medigap premiums for $0 deductible will be $250+/month. $147/mo (next year) for Medicare. $25ish/mo for Part D drug coverage. Total is $5K/yr.
Typical Advantage is $0 premium, drugs included, $147/mo for Medicare. BUT, when you need treatment/care, there will be copays. Those copays add up. If you don’t get sick much, you’ll be way under the $5K/yr Medigap. If you do, you’ll go over $5K/yr, with an out of pocket max imposed on all Advantage plans of about $5500 for the year.
Last item: If you KNOW, for SURE, you’re going to be sick a lot, then Medigap is your correct choice. If you may not be sick much, with few doc visits, you’re taking no huge risk in Advantage.