When to enroll for Medicare Supplement Coverage (Medigap)
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When to enroll for Medicare Supplement Coverage (Medigap)
IMPORTANT: Keep track of when to enroll for the various parts of Medicare. If you don’t enroll during the correct periods, you may be penalized or you may not be able to obtain Medicare Supplement Coverage (Medigap) because of pre-existing conditions. When to enroll for Medicare Part A and B, Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage), Medicare Advantage (Part C).
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans are purchased separately from a private company/insurer that is approved by Medicare.
Here is a good publication from Medicare covering Medicare Supplement plans (Medigap).
2024 Guide to Choosing a Medigap Policy .
At this time, there is no comparable 2025 document to be found for Choosing a Medigap Policy.
You can go to the Medicare “How to compare Medigap policies” website to get a summary of the basic offering for the different Plans A through N.
Plan A has the least coverage.
Plans D, G and N have the most coverage (as of right now).
Find a Medigap policy that works for you. From this link you will enter your zip code and some brief information about yourself (age, sex, and whether or not you use tobacco). A list of the Plan types (A through N) will appear. You can then select the View Policies link button for each of the Plan types (A through N) to see a list of the insurance providers plan offerings with estimated cost for the Plan type (A through N).
Plan A has the least coverage.
Plans D, G and N have the most coverage (as of right now).
Open Enrollment
There is a 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. However, some states allow you to enroll earlier, up to 3-months prior to your 65th birthday, similar to Medicare Part A and Part B. Contact Medicare, your state insurance department (select the SHIP locator link or the Find Local Medicare Help link to find the state insurance department for your state), or your insurance company to determine if you can sign up early.
The best time to buy Medicare Supplement Coverage (Medigap) is during your 6-month Medigap open enrollment period or earlier if possible. During that time you can buy any Medigap policy sold in your state, even if you have health problems.
After this enrollment period, you may not be able to buy a Medigap policy. If you’re able to buy one, it may cost more.
You should compare Medigap options (Plans A through N), then use the Medicare Find a Medigap Policy tool to research policies, and contact your chosen provider (insurance company) in advance of the open enrollment period. Plan A has the least coverage. Plans D, G and N have the most coverage (as of right now). It can take 10-15 business days, or longer, to have Medigap approved, date of application, card in hand. It is advisable to do it at least three weeks in advance.
When is the Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Open Enrollment period?
Starts the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Medicare Part B (medical).
Some states have additional Open Enrollment Periods including those for people under 65. Contact Medicare, your state insurance department (select the SHIP locator link or the Find Local Medicare Help link to find the state insurance department for your state), or your insurance company to determine if your state has an additional Open Enrollment period.
Go to the Medicare Find a Medigap Policy website tool to research policies and for information on Medigap insurance companies in your area. You can use the Medicare Compare Medigap Plans A through N to get a summary of the coverage provided by the available types of Medigap Plans.
It can take 10-15 business days, or longer, to have Medigap approved, date of application to card in hand. It is advisable to do it at least three weeks in advance.
After this enrollment period, you may not be able to buy a Medigap policy. If you’re able to buy one, it may cost more.
During your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, you have a “guaranteed-issue right” to buy any Medigap plan sold in your state. Guaranteed issue rights (also called “Medigap protections”) are rights you have in certain situations when insurance companies must offer you certain Medigap policies. Thus allowing you to return to Original Medicare and drop the Medicare Advantage Plan. Scroll down to the “What if I miss my Medigap Open Enrollment Period?” section to access the link for “What are guaranteed issue rights?“.
Outside Open Enrollment
One special situation is if you have group health insurance through an employer or union, your Medigap open enrollment period will start when you sign up for Part B.
In most cases, you won’t have a right under Federal law to switch Medigap policies, unless one of these applies:
You’re eligible under a specific circumstance or guaranteed issue rights
You’re within your 6-month Medigap open enrollment period
You can switch if an insurer is willing to sell you a new Medigap policy.
If you have the right to switch, you may have to wait up to 6 months before any new benefits or your pre-existing condition will be covered.
After you bought a Medigap policy, you might find that it doesn’t meet your needs. You may want to change your Medigap policy, if:
- You’re paying for benefits you don’t need.
- You need more benefits.
- You want to change insurance companies.
- You want a policy that costs less.
Again, you can switch if an insurer is willing to sell you a new Medigap policy and the new policy doesn’t cost too much and you can wait the 6 months for the pre-existing condition clause.
If you are eligible to switch Medigap policies, you have 30 days (“free look period”) to decide if you want to keep the new Medigap policy. The 30-day free look period starts when you get your new Medigap policy. You’ll need to pay both premiums for one month. Don’t cancel your first Medigap policy until you’ve decided to keep the second Medigap policy.
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