Can I change my Supplemental/Medigap plan at any time?
Answered by 46 licensed agents
Answered by Gregg Matheny on March 25, 2025
Agent Licensed in AZ & UT
Answered by Larry Dalton on March 26, 2025
Broker Licensed in OK & TX
Answered by Tony Capraro III on March 27, 2025
Agent Licensed in NH
Answered by Charise Karjala on May 12, 2025
Broker Licensed in CA, AZ, CO, PA & WA
Answered by William Lawler on May 10, 2025
Broker Licensed in MO, FL, IA & 12 other states
Answered by Brian Krantz on March 25, 2025
Broker Licensed in NY, AK, AL & 48 other states
Answered by Robert Pennington on March 25, 2025
Broker Licensed in NC, GA, SC & VA
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.
Answered by Charles Fletcher on March 24, 2025
Agent Licensed in WA, AZ, ID, NV & TN
Answered by Ray McCauley on May 19, 2025
Broker Licensed in CA, AZ, FL & ID, NV, SC & TN
Answered by Bryan Smith on March 10, 2025
Broker Licensed in UT, AL, AR & 35 other states
Answered by Shawn Brown on March 26, 2025
Broker Licensed in FL, AL, CO & 7 other states
Answered by Justin Sonon on March 25, 2025
Broker Licensed in Pa, DE, FL & IL, MD, NJ & SC
Answered by Phillip Lovelady on March 26, 2025
Agent Licensed in TX
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.
Answered by Jolynn Allen on March 25, 2025
Agent Licensed in CO
Answered by Colleen Williams on May 20, 2025
Broker Licensed in PA, FL & NJ
Answered by Frank Souk on March 25, 2025
Agent Licensed in WI, AL, AR & 40 other states
Answered by Patrick Bullock on March 27, 2025
Broker Licensed in PA, DE, FL, NJ & VA
Answered by Greg Milliser on March 31, 2025
Broker Licensed in MO, AR, IN, KS, OH & OK
Answered by William Lewkowski on April 25, 2025
Broker Licensed in TN, AL, AR & 30 other states
Answered by Kim Cotten on May 19, 2025
Broker Licensed in FL, AL, AR & 40 other states
Answered by Frank Buonomo on April 21, 2025
Agent Licensed in NV, CA, NM & OR
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.
Answered by Shane Bullock on March 11, 2025
Broker Licensed in UT, AZ, FL & 9 other states
Answered by John Billetdoux on February 11, 2025
Broker Licensed in NJ, DE, FL, NC, PA & SC
For a Medicare Supplement plan, after your initial enrollment, you would have to medically qualify to change plans, and by that, I mean that you would have to be healthy enough to make it through underwriting. If you do not medically qualify, some states have guaranteed issue periods called the Birthday Rule, where you can change your Medigap plan within the 60 days following your birthday each year to get lower premiums.
Answered by Diana Garner on May 14, 2025
Broker Licensed in KY, FL, IN, OH & TN
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.
Answered by Leslie Helene Sussman on March 31, 2025
Broker Licensed in NJ, FL & PA
Answered by Steve Houchens on March 28, 2025
Agent Licensed in KY & TN
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.
Answered by Sean Davis on March 26, 2025
Broker Licensed in NY, LA, MD & 6 other states
Answered by DeeDee Whitlock on March 27, 2025
Broker Licensed in LA
Answered by Valentina Gatewood on May 12, 2025
Broker Licensed in CA, AZ, ID & NJ
Answered by Cody Brown on May 5, 2025
Agent Licensed in MO, AR, AZ & 5 other states
Answered by David Koller on March 26, 2025
Broker Licensed in UT, ID & NV
MEDIGAP OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD: If you enroll in a Medigap/Supplemental plan within the first six months after turning 65, you will be approved for almost any Medigap Policy at the lowest price, regardless if you have pre-existing conditions or health problems.
GUARANTEED ISSUE: Means you can switch Medigap/Supplemental Plans without Medical Underwriting. This only applies to certain situations, like moving out of plan's service area or losing employer sponsored coverage. In very rare occurrences, a company may offer Guaranteed Issue for their Medigap Plans during Annual Enrollment Period.
Answered by Robert Helmkamp II on May 12, 2025
Broker Licensed in AZ
Answered by Marcy Bulliner on March 26, 2025
Agent Licensed in MI, IN, MO, SC & TX
Elaboration:
Guaranteed Issue Rights:
If you have a guaranteed issue right (usually during your Medigap open enrollment period or if you switch from Medicare Advantage), the insurer must accept your application without considering your health status.
Outside of Guaranteed Issue:
Outside of guaranteed issue periods, you may be subject to medical underwriting, meaning the insurer can deny your application or charge higher premiums based on your health history.
State Regulations:
Some states have special rules that may make it easier or harder to switch plans, so it's important to check with your state insurance department.
New York Specifics:
In New York, insurers must sell you any Medigap policy at any time, regardless of pre-existing conditions.
Impact of Pre-existing Conditions:
If you switch to a new Medigap plan, you may have to wait up to six months for the new policy to cover pre-existing conditions.
Dropping Your Medigap Plan:
If you choose to drop your current Medigap plan, you may not be able to get another one in the future.
Answered by Fred Manas on May 14, 2025
Agent Licensed in NY, CT, DC & 7 other states
Answered by Steve Brauer on April 14, 2025
Broker Licensed in AZ & CA
Answered by Kelly Linster on May 8, 2025
Agent Licensed in ND, AZ, CO, IA & SD
Answered by Sonya Chandler on May 21, 2025
Agent Licensed in NY, AZ, FL & 5 other states
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.
Answered by Barbara Barnes, CMIP® on April 1, 2025
Agent Licensed in PA
Answered by Kris Neupauer on May 15, 2025
Broker Licensed in MN, ND, SD & WI
Answered by Jack Mayer on May 12, 2025
Agent Licensed in CA & NV
Answered by Jill Belvin on March 24, 2025
Agent Licensed in TX, AZ, FL, MI & NJ
Answered by Tommy Lawson on May 21, 2025
Broker Licensed in KY, CT & IN
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
Answered by Lowell Ryals on April 1, 2025
Broker Licensed in MO, AR, FL, KS, LA & TX
Answered by Bobby Coates on April 29, 2025
Agent Licensed in TX, AL, AZ & 21 other states
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!
Answered by Abbie Choate on March 4, 2025
Broker Licensed in CA & NY
However, depending on your situation you may be subject to underwriting (Health questions, medical records etc.)
Feel free to reach out if you would like further information!
Answered by Barbara Cleveland on April 21, 2025
Broker Licensed in FL & MN
Tags: Medicare Supplement
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