Can I change my Supplemental/Medigap plan at any time?

Question

Gregg Matheny · Accepted Answer

Medicare Supplement plans can be changed anytime, however, they may be subject to underwriting depending upon the time period that you’re trying to enroll.

Larry Dalton · Answer

Yes, at any time. However, you may require medical underwriting approval. Except for the three months before your 65th birthday month, the month of your 65th birthday, three months after your 65th birthday, or 63 days after working past 65 with a company group insurance plan of 20 or more. Then there are no medical underwriting requirements within those timelines.

Answered by Larry Dalton on March 26, 2025

Broker Licensed in OK & TX

Answered by Larry Dalton Medicare Insurance Agent

Tony Capraro III · Answer

Yes you can-however once enrolled in a Supplemental/Medigap plan and you want to change -most companies will require you to be "medically qualified" by answering the medical questions on the new application! PS Always look for companies that are Financially Stable!

Answered by Tony Capraro III on March 27, 2025

Agent Licensed in NH

Answered by Tony Capraro III Medicare Insurance Agent

Charles Fletcher · Answer

Yes, in Washington State, you can change your Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) plan at any time during the year, but there are specific rules depending on your current plan. Unlike most states, Washington has a unique "Right to Change" law that offers year-round guaranteed issue for existing Medigap policyholders, meaning you can switch plans without medical underwriting in certain cases. Here’s how it works:

If you have Medigap Plan A: You can only switch to another Plan A offered by a different insurer without undergoing medical underwriting. You’re limited to staying within the same plan letter.

If you have Medigap Plans B through N: You can switch to any other plan between B and N (e.g., from Plan G to Plan N, or Plan B to Plan F) at any time, also without medical underwriting. This gives you more flexibility to adjust coverage or premiums.

Key Conditions: You must already be enrolled in a Medigap plan to use this rule. If you’re coming from Original Medicare alone or a Medicare Advantage plan, you can’t switch to a Medigap plan under this guaranteed issue provision—you’d need to apply normally, which might involve health questions outside your initial 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period or a Special Enrollment Period.

Practical Steps: To switch, contact the new insurance provider, apply for the desired plan, and, once approved, cancel your old plan. There’s no specific enrollment window like the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7) that applies to Medicare Advantage or Part D—Washington’s rule lets you do this anytime.

This flexibility is a big perk in Washington compared to most states, where switching outside specific periods often requires passing medical underwriting, risking denial or higher rates due to health conditions. Just make sure the new plan fits your needs—compare benefits and premiums carefully with your Medicare Insurance broker, as costs can vary by insurer even for the same lettered plan.

Robert Pennington · Answer

Only during OEP, AEP or have an SEP.

Bryan Smith · Answer

Yes! As long as you can pass underwriting in some situations. Also depending on where you live or where you signed up, you may not be required to answer health questions.

Shawn Brown · Answer

Yes. However, for approval, you'll likely be subject to medical underwriting questions. If you have a perfect bill of health you can change anytime. If not, you'll likely be declined.

Phillip Lovelady · Answer

You can cancel your Supplement/Medigap plan at any time of the year. You don't need to wait for an enrollment period. Once you have been on Medicare Part B for over a year with your Supplement, you would have to answer health questions and qualify medically in order to qualify for a new policy. Medicare beneficiaries usually look to change plans when their current premiums have increased, and want the same plan but with lower premiums.

Answered by Phillip Lovelady on March 26, 2025

Agent Licensed in TX

Answered by Phillip Lovelady Medicare Insurance Agent

Frank Souk · Answer

You can change at any time of the year, however, you will be subject to Medical underwriting when changing from one Supplemental/Medigap plan to another unless you are eligible for a Guaranteed Issue enrollment.

Answered by Frank Souk on March 25, 2025

Agent Licensed in WI, AL, AR & 40 other states

Answered by Frank Souk Medicare Insurance Agent

Justin Sonon · Answer

Contrary to popular belieft, Medigap plans can be changed throughout the year. You can also change them when moving to a different state throughout the year if desired.

Jolynn Allen · Answer

It depends on what you are changing to. Can you switch from one Medicare Supplement to another at anytime - yes you may, but there will most likely be underwriting involved. Outside of turning 65 or leaving employer group health insurance there are few opportunities to change a Medicare supplement without being asked health questions. If you do not have health issues changing plans can be very easy. 

If you are wanting to change from a Medicare Supplement to a Medicare Advantage plan, that needs to occur during the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15th to December 7th each year.

Patrick Bullock · Answer

One of the reasons people like Medicare Supplement plans is that you can change that supplement to another any time of the year. Medicare Advantage plans have enrollment periods the you must abide by, and generally are required to stay in that plan for the entire year. That being said, after the initial enrollment period ends, a person's application will go through underwriting and they must be able to answer those health questions to the satisfaction of the particular insurance company.

Answered by Patrick Bullock on March 27, 2025

Broker Licensed in PA, DE, FL, NJ & VA

Answered by Patrick Bullock Medicare Insurance Agent

Shane Bullock · Answer

You can apply at any time, but you may not be accepted at any time. Medicare supplement (Medigap) plans do not have a nationwide yearly enrollment period like Medicare Advantage (Part C) or standalone Prescription Drug (Part D) Plans do. 

Rules do vary from state to state, but in general, there is a one-time Open Enrollment period for Medigap plans - this is the first 6 months after your Part B effective date. In this 6-month period, you can enroll in any Medigap plan you want regardless of your health. After this period, you will most likely have to go through underwriting (i.e. answer questions about your health history) to enroll in a Medigap plan. If you have a serious health condition, you may not qualify. Find a competent agent/broker to help you with this process because each insurance company has their own rules for what they will accept or deny.


Some states have guaranteed issue (i.e. you must be accepted regardless of your health) rules such as a birthday rule, which will give people an opportunity to change plans yearly. Check with an agent/broker to see if you have that opportunity in your state.

Greg Milliser · Answer

The answer is “Yes, you can.” HOWEVER, there are qualifications that must be met before the change can go into effect. In order to change any time during the year you must answer underwriting questions about your health history and have no disqualifying conditions. If this condition is met the policy will go into effect.

Answered by Greg Milliser on March 31, 2025

Broker Licensed in MO, AR, IN, KS, OH & OK

Answered by Greg Milliser Medicare Insurance Agent

John Billetdoux · Answer

You may change your supplemental/medigap plan, 12 months out of the year. You are not bound by the Annual Enrollment Period in the fall, if you’re looking to move from one supplemental plan to another, for example moving from an Aetna G Plan to a Cigna G Plan.

Answered by John Billetdoux on February 11, 2025

Broker Licensed in NJ, DE, FL, NC, PA & SC

Answered by John Billetdoux Medicare Insurance Agent

Leslie Helene Sussman · Answer

No there is no yearly Annual Enrollment for Medicare Supplement/Medigap like there is for Medicare Advantage/RX Plans.

Typically, Medical Underwriting/review is necessary to change plans.   If you are looking to lower premium discuss your options with a Medicare broker.

Underwriting review consists of medical questions, Prescription list, Height/Weight etc.

Contact me with any questions.

Steve Houchens · Answer

You may but you will be subject to going through underwriting if you aren't in a guaranteed issue period and you could be subject to higher premiums or the possibility of being declined

Sean Davis · Answer

You can change your Supplemental or Medigap plan, but doing so may depend on certain conditions. If you are within your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which lasts for six months after you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part B, you can switch plans without medical underwriting. Outside of that period, you may need to provide health information and go through underwriting, which could affect your ability to obtain coverage.

Additionally, some states have specific rules regarding changes. It’s crucial to review your current plan, understand the options available, and check for any open enrollment periods to make changes without complications.

DeeDee Whitlock · Answer

YES, Medicare Supplemental plans do NOT have enrollment periods & this gives you the option to change year around

David Koller · Answer

Yes and possibly no...it depends on your situation.  Are you eligible for a guarantee issue period or could you be underwritten? We can discuss and determine to see what your options are.

Marcy Bulliner · Answer

Supplemental / Gap insurance can be changed at any time of the year. However anytime you change from one to plan to another (even within the same company) there are going to be health questions you must answer. Usually these health questions limit your availability of getting new or different coverage if you have health concerns. That is why is it important to choose the right level of coverage when you first become eligible for part B, because during that time there are no health questions

Answered by Marcy Bulliner on March 26, 2025

Agent Licensed in MI, IN, MO, SC & TX

Answered by Marcy Bulliner Medicare Insurance Agent

Brian Krantz · Answer

Technically yes, but it depends on your state’s rules. In most states, you can apply anytime — but you may have to answer health questions and could be denied. Some states have more flexible rules, so it’s worth checking.

Answered by Brian Krantz on March 25, 2025

Broker Licensed in NY, AK, AL & 48 other states

Answered by Brian Krantz Medicare Insurance Agent

Barbara Barnes, CMIP® · Answer

Technically, yes.  Medicare Supplement plans are not locked-in to an annual cycle like Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans. This means that you can make changes to them at any time of the year.

BUT outside of the Initial Enrollment Period (when you're new to Medicare Part B), or a Special Enrollment Period, you will need to qualify through Medical Underwriting to make a change in Medicare Supplement insurance plans or companies.  If you've recently been in the hospital, have medical tests or treatment pending or you have a chronic condition or use a lot of medications, you can be denied coverage.  This is why it's important that you never cancel one policy without first having the new policy that you're replacing it with in place.  Many clients have questioned this because the Affordable Care Act eliminated pre-existing conditions and made it so that people with pre-existing conditions could get insurance, but that law does not specifically apply to Medicare programs.  It is possible that this could change in the future, but for now, Supplement plans are still medically underwritten and can be denied.

Jill Belvin · Answer

It depends on your health and medications. You are allowed to apply to change a Medigap/ Supplemental anytime but the Medigap/Supplemental company is not required to accept you into the plan at the guarantee issue price or accept you at all even if you do apply unless you are in a Guarantee Issue period or you are in your initial enrollment period.

Answered by Jill Belvin on March 24, 2025

Agent Licensed in TX, AZ, FL, MI & NJ

Answered by Jill Belvin Medicare Insurance Agent

Lowell Ryals · Answer

Depends yes if you go through underwriting and don’t have any major health problems.
If you can’t go through underwriting some states let you change on or around your birthdate or anniversary of policy
Call or text for more information 417-2143442

Abbie Choate · Answer

Yes, you can change your Medigap plan anytime, but depending on your state, you might have to go through medical underwriting.

California has a birthday rule, which gives you 60 days after your birthday each year to switch to a plan with equal or lesser benefits—no health questions asked.

New York lets you switch anytime with no underwriting, so you’re always guaranteed coverage.

If you’re in another state, you might need to go through underwriting unless you qualify for a special exception. Always good to check before making a switch!

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