By Jessie A. Navalta, Owner/Broker, TrustHaven Insurance Agency
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs through December 7, and whatever you choose now starts January 1, 2027. If you’ve been putting off the big question, it usually comes down to this: do you want a Medigap plan with Original Medicare, or a Medicare Advantage plan? Here’s the plain-English version.
The Two Paths, Side by Side
Medigap (Medicare Supplement) works alongside Original Medicare. Medicare pays its share, your Medigap plan picks up most of what’s left, and you can generally see any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare. You’ll pay a monthly premium, and you’ll need a separate Part D plan for prescriptions.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) replaces Original Medicare with a plan from a private insurer. Premiums are often low, and many plans bundle drug coverage and extras like dental or vision. In exchange, you use the plan’s network and follow its rules for referrals and approvals.
Neither one is “the right answer.” The right answer is the one that fits your doctors, your medications, your budget, and how much you travel.
Why Timing Matters More in Florida
Here’s the part most people don’t hear until it’s too late. When you first sign up for Medicare Part B, you get a six-month window where a Medigap company has to accept you, no matter your health. Once that window closes, Florida doesn’t give you a regular, built-in “do-over” for Medigap. If you leave Medicare Advantage later and want a Medigap plan, the insurance company can generally ask health questions, and the answers can affect whether you’re approved and what you pay.
That doesn’t mean you can never switch. There are situations that protect you, which is why a conversation before you make a change is so valuable.
Your Pre-Decision Checklist
- List your doctors, specialists, and hospitals, and confirm whether each is in network for the plans you’re considering
- List every prescription and check it against each plan’s 2027 drug list
- Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) from your current plan; costs and benefits can shift every year
- Ask whether you’ll be away from home for part of the year (snowbirds, this one’s for you)
- Think about what a bad health year would cost you under each option, not just a good one
- Find out whether you have a guaranteed-issue right or a trial right before you drop any coverage
Special Situations Worth Knowing
- 12-month trial right: If you joined a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time when you became eligible, you may be able to go back to Original Medicare within the first 12 months and buy a Medigap plan without health questions.
- Plan leaves your area or ends: If your Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued or you move out of its service area, you generally get a limited window (typically 63 days) with guaranteed-issue protection. Keep every notice you receive; you may need it as proof.
- After December 7: If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch plans or return to Original Medicare from January 1 to March 31. But that doesn’t open the door to buying a Medigap plan without health questions.
The Three Mistakes I See Most Often
- Choosing on premium alone. A $0 premium looks great until you need a specialist or an expensive procedure. Look at the full picture, including out-of-pocket maximums.
- Dropping coverage before the new plan is approved. Never cancel what you have until the replacement is confirmed in writing.
- Assuming you can always switch back. With Medicare Advantage, moving to Medigap later may involve health questions. Make the decision with that in mind.
Don’t Wait Until December
The last weeks of enrollment are the busiest, and appointments fill up fast. Reviewing your options now gives you time to ask questions, compare, and make a decision you feel good about.
I walk Southwest Florida clients through this at no cost to you. No pressure, just education.