Can I be denied for a Medicare Supplement plan?

Question

Tony Capraro III · Accepted Answer

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Larry Dalton · Answer

Yes, due to health conditions, you can be denied a Medicare supplement (Medigap plan). However, during your initial enrollment in Medicare you have guarantee right.  You have three months before your 65th birthday, the month of your 65th birthday, and three months after your 65th birthday, that no insurance company can deny you supplemental (Medigap) coverage. 

If you continue to work for a company past 65, and remain on their group insurance plan, then decide to retire, you have a guaranteed issue when you come off the company group health insurance for the next 63 days.

There is also a Medigap Trial Rights available. When you first join Medicare and choose to use a Medicare Advantage plan but decide later that it is not the right choice, you have one year to switch back to the Medigap plan with guaranteed coverage.

In some cases, if your insurance carrier goes bankrupt or a policy has been terminated, you could be given a guarantee issue on a Medigap plan.   However, it is important to note that not all insurance companies or states are required to meet these guarantee issues except on the initial enrollment or by a government mandate.

Jay Larshus · Answer

Medicare Supplements are Guaranteed Issued when you first sign up for Medicare or when you lose qualified Employer Coverage.  However, if you wish to switch Medicare Supplement Company's, you may need to answer health questions and you can be denied.  

In addition, if you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time, you may leave the Advantage plan within one year and you can  go back to your original Supplement or sign up for a Supplement with no health questions.  After one year of being on an Advantage plan, you may still leave the Advantage plan and go to a Supplement IF you can pass the underwriting questions.  If you cannot pass underwriting, you will be denied.

Joseph Meyers · Answer

In Michigan (where I primarily help ppl) when turning 65 or leaving credible work group coverage you are granted guaranteed acceptance into a medicare supplement plan(medigap)

Outside of that situation there will be health questions and underwriting to determine acceptance into a supplement (medigap) plan

Darlene Murphy · Answer

You may be denied a Medicare Supplement, however, there are certain times of enrollment where no health questions apply. Supplements are covered by private insurance companies, so they can deny acceptance.

Answered by Darlene Murphy on May 27, 2025

Broker Licensed in CA, AZ, ID & 7 other states

Answered by Darlene Murphy Medicare Insurance Agent

Sarah Rollins · Answer

Medicare Supplement plans are technically medically underwritten - meaning the insurance company will look at your health history. Kind of like life insurance. If you are applying for a Medicare Supplement plan outside of your initial enrollment period, or outside of a special enrollment period, and if you have certain medical conditions, you might be denied.

Answered by Sarah Rollins on June 12, 2025

Broker Licensed in CO, AZ, CA, ME, SC & TN

Answered by Sarah Rollins Medicare Insurance Agent

Joseph Mullen · Answer

In New York State, all Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for continuous open enrollment for Medigap ( supplemental) policies. This means insurance companies: Must sell you a Medigap ( supplemental) policy at any time, no matter your age or health status. Cannot deny you coverage or charge you more because of your health status.

Answered by Joseph Mullen on June 16, 2025

Broker Licensed in NY, CT, MD, PA, SC & TX

Answered by Joseph Mullen Medicare Insurance Agent

Steven Bleicher · Answer

If you are first turning age 65, there are no pre-existing conditions that will yield a decline for your enrollment into a Med. Supp, aka, Medigap plan. However, once you turn age 66, if you do exhibit some serious conditions, you would not be able to move in the future to another Supplement if you so desired. So, be sure to get 2-3 agents advise you, making sure that they are independent reps or brokers since you don't want to be interviewed by a "captive agent" who can only offer you one company's plans. Remember: an Advantage plan has NO monthly premium (since it's govt-subsidized) but a steep deductible which is a potential cost factor for you if you were ever "officially" admitted (don't be under observation!) to a hospital.

Answered by Steven Bleicher on May 11, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Steven Bleicher Medicare Insurance Agent

Timothy Brown · Answer

Yes, you can be denied coverage for a Medicare Supplement under the following circumstances:

1) You don’t qualify medically because of your health history and/or current health status/condition and current prescriptions

2) You don’t live in a guaranteed issue state where medical underwriting isn’t part of the process 

3) You don’t have a guaranteed issue options such as leaving employer group insurance, an existing plan leaving the market or moving from one state to another where you're now out of the service area.

Yasmery Vargas · Answer

The short answer is Yes. If you are outside of your enrollment window and attempt to enroll in a Medicare supplement, you will be subjected to the underwriting questions. Its best practice to enroll in a Medicare supplement plan when you are new to 65 as it is a guaranteed issue.

Answered by Yasmery Vargas on April 29, 2025

Agent Licensed in PA

Answered by Yasmery Vargas Medicare Insurance Agent

Diana Salisbury · Answer

Yes if you are out of your initial enrollment period with Medicare,  

Or If you have been on an advantage plan and now want to try out a Medicare supplement, you will be asked medical questions on an application and could be denied coverage due to some specific health issues.

Fred Manas · Answer

Yes.
You can be denied for a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, particularly if you apply outside of your initial enrollment period or a guaranteed issue period. 
Insurers can deny coverage or impose waiting periods for pre-existing conditions outside of these periods.

Vachik Chakhbazian · Answer

Yes, it's possible to be denied a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, but it depends on the circumstances and when you're applying. Generally, you can't be denied for pre-existing conditions if you are in your 6-month Medigap open enrollment period or during other guaranteed issue periods.

Answered by Vachik Chakhbazian on April 27, 2025

Agent Licensed in CA, AL, AR & 22 other states

Answered by Vachik Chakhbazian Medicare Insurance Agent

Andrew Kramer · Answer

That depends when you are wanting to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan. If you are enrolling with 6 months of signing up for Part B, you cannot be turned down. Also, if you chose to take an Advantage plan when you signed up for Part B, you have a 1 year free look for the Advantage plan. If by the 11 & 1/2 month, you decide to switch to a Supplement, you also cannot be turned down. Also, if you chose an Advantage plan, then moved from the service area of your plan, you cannot be turned down. Outside of those criteria, you will be subject to medical underwriting, with a few states being an exception. Bear in mind, the Supplement premium will rise in the years after your 65th birthday. Speak with your licensed health insurance agent who is a Medicare expert in your area.

Answered by Andrew Kramer on June 2, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL

Answered by Andrew Kramer Medicare Insurance Agent

Carol Thompson · Answer

Yes you can be denied for a Medicare Supp. plan. Having certain preexisting conditions can cause you to be denied

 On the contrary, Medicare advantage plans do not deny beneficiaries due to preexisting conditions

Suzanne Lamperti · Answer

Yes, it depends on your health, unless you qualify for guaranteed issue.  You may qualify fir Medicaid if your financ I al situation is low income.

David Christian · Answer

Yes you can absolutely be denied for a Medicare Supplement plan. Now that doesn't mean you will be denied. If you are new to Medicare and enroll when you get Medicare you won't be denied. Sometimes specific plans may decide to take enrollments in certain periods that will not have underwriting so no denial then. Also, if you enrolled into a Medicare Advantage Plan when you first got Medicare and within the first year decided to change into a Supplement plan, you will not have to undergo underwriting and will be accepted. Some plans may even allow you to switch from their own Medicare Advantage Plan to their Supplement plan without underwriting.

Answered by David Christian on May 20, 2025

Broker Licensed in CA & TX

Answered by David Christian Medicare Insurance Agent

Robert Remin · Answer

If you are in a non guaranteed issue state which are all except for NY, CT, ME, and MA and you are not in guaranteed issue status you are subject to underwriting and can be denied coverage.You are guaranteed issue if you are new to Medicare, leaving a work plan in which you had credible coverage, moving to a new county even within in the same state. The latter two apply regardless of age and even if you are in Medicare already.

Answered by Robert Remin on May 19, 2025

Agent Licensed in NY, CT, FL & NJ

Answered by Robert Remin Medicare Insurance Agent

Richard Balistreri · Answer

If you are turning 65 or new to Medicare, you are allowed to purchase a supplement plan with no underwriting, which means you will not be denied coverage. If you elected not to purchase a supplement when you were first eligible, then you could be subject to underwriting, and you may be denied coverage based on your current medical condition. Some states have guaranteed issue rights at any time, so it is important to do some research and speak with a Medicare specialist.

Answered by Richard Balistreri on May 13, 2025

Agent Licensed in MO, AZ, FL & 7 other states

Answered by Richard Balistreri Medicare Insurance Agent

Robert Barco · Answer

You get a one-time six-month open enrollment when you turn 65 and first become eligible for Medicare Part B. At this time, you can sign up for a Medicare supplement without any health questions. You will not be denied coverage. If you wish to purchase a Medicare Supplement or Medigap after your 6-month open enrollment, you will need to pass underwriting, and you can be denied coverage due to health.

Answered by Robert Barco on April 27, 2025

Broker Licensed in OH

Answered by Robert Barco Medicare Insurance Agent

Mitchell Nunn · Answer

Yes actually you can be denied a medicare supplement. There are certain times though where that you are able to get around that.

Brandon Brown · Answer

Yes, you can be denied a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan if you apply outside your Open Enrollment Period or without a guaranteed issue right.

During your 6-month Open Enrollment (starting when you’re 65+ and have Part B), insurers must accept you no matter your health.
Outside of that, companies can ask health questions, charge more, or deny coverage.

Some states offer more protections, but in most places, timing is key to avoid being denied.

Can I be denied for a Medicare Supplement plan?

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