It depends on the quality of the insurance regulation in the state where you reside. Like I said, in WA State I can switch Medigap insurers on any day of the year to the one with the lowest premium. WA State also uses the Community Rating model to calculate premiums (i.e., everyone from age 65 to 100+ is in the same group and must be charged the same premium.) There’s no way for an insurer to create a “dead pool”.
Every state could do this, but if you’re State Insurance Commissioners office is in the pocket of the industry, they won’t. It’s more profitable for the industry to create the “dead pools”.
Back in 2006, when I moved from Texas to WA State, my health insurance premiums dropped by 60%. That’s a measure of the level of corruption you have in Texas. And the ignorance & innumeracy of the voters who let it continue.
Medicare Advantage is sold to customers ignorant of the arithmetic, like annuities.
Also, in four states, (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and New York} you can switch out of MA back to Medigap without medical underwriting beyond the one year limit provided by Federal law. Again, a difference in the quality of the state insurance regulation and level of corruption.
intercst