How do I know if a Medigap policy is right for me, and what's the best time to buy one?

Question

William Kravit · Accepted Answer

A Medigap policy is right for you for a number of reasons:

1.  You are in the younger market like age 65 and that gives you a low premium.
2.  You're health is not great, many doc visits, maybe a few chronic conditions requiring on going services.
3.  Medigap policies follow Medicare's lead, and Medicare patients are treated everywhere.  In other words, Medigap clients don't hear "no" when or if they want to go to a specialist locally or anywhere in the country.

Larry Dalton · Answer

This question cannot be answered without knowing all your circumstances, but there are just as many different answers to this question as there are agents in the field, as to why you should or should not. Again, a trustworthy agent can explain this in detail.

Answered by Larry Dalton on March 26, 2025

Broker Licensed in OK & TX

Answered by Larry Dalton Medicare Insurance Agent

Lt Col Tim Brown · Answer

By using someone who has experience in the business to explain the pro's and con's of the plan, how it works. Medigap is the name Medicare calls it. It is actually a Medicare Supplement Plan. The best time to buy one is when your in your enrollment period for Medicare. If you already have a supplement plan, you can change those plans anytime of the year you like as long as you can qualify.

Answered by Lt Col Tim Brown on April 1, 2025

Broker Licensed in TN, AL, CO & 10 other states

Answered by Lt Col Tim Brown Medicare Insurance Agent

Norman Smith · Answer

A Medigap plan that adds a G Plan to your Part A and B, is the best you can get. Timing is best when there is an Open Enrollment and no Underwriting involved. Open Enrollment is each year from 10/15 through 12/7. 
Why is this the best plan? It allows you to have control of your health care with no referrals, no Co-Insurance, no Co-pay, and simply your premiums plus a $257 Part B deductible. Then no more Medical bills for the year! MA plans sound nice until you realize you can’t see YOUR Doctor or surgeon or even hospital of choice! You are controlled by the system!

Now, people don’t recognize that Medicare has been in a constant flux, and they will continue to cut the plans and push more responsibility and financial expense back to the public. There was an “I” plan, then a “J” plan, and then an “F” plan, and now the “G”. And each time the benefits have lessened. So get the G plans while you can!

Charise Karjala · Answer

I use an algorithm to determine if the Medicare supplement policy is appropriate for my given client.

If you’d like additional assistance with this reliable method of determining whether a Medicare supplemental policies appropriate please reach out to me. Charise Karjala 760-831-2736.

Melonie Wood · Answer

A Medigap policy might be a good fit for you if you want to reduce your out-of-pocket costs for Original Medicare. The best time to buy one is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which is the six-month period starting on the first day of the month you turn 65 and enroll in Part B.

Answered by Melonie Wood on April 21, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL & AL

Answered by Melonie Wood Medicare Insurance Agent

David Bell · Answer

Due to the gaps in original Medicare A & B, it is important to have either a Medigap plan or Medicare Advantage. Is it right for you? Do some comparison of the options with an agent that knows both plans. Medigap is a better choice if you have current treatments like chemotherapy, need major surgery in the near future or if the Advantage plan options in your area are limited. Medigap also makes doctor choice much easier as there are no networks.  

Best time to buy one? When you are healthy. You get a "no questions asked" entry to any Medigap when you are first elegible for medicare, so that is the best time and the easiest time. In the future you have to answer elegiblilty questions and can be turned down for things like heart conditions, diabetes, cancer etc.... Medicare Advantage asks no health questions, but you are restricted to an annual open enrollment period (10/15-12/7 each year).

Dutch VanHoesen · Answer

There really is no way to know for sure until you talk to a professional broker or agent. There is just so much information and thought that needs to go into a decision like this. Typically the best time to get into a Medigap plan is within 6 months of your Medicare Part B effective date. After that they will underwrite you and may deny you coverage based on your answers to medical questions.

Answered by Dutch VanHoesen on April 30, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL

Answered by Dutch VanHoesen Medicare Insurance Agent

Steven Bleicher · Answer

As long as you interview a minimum of 2-3 experienced agents who should cover most of the very quirky rules of Medicare, you should sense a better choice. In addition, here are my own 3 main criteria in that choice:

A) Can you afford a monthly Medigap premium plus a smaller premium for a Part D(rug) plan?,
 
B) Do you have any health issues that need to be tended to?, 

C) What is your family's history for longevity?

Based on the Medicare rules, since you become Medicare-eligible on the first day of your 65th birthday month, that is the best time to purchase a Medigap. So, if your birthday is on November 27th, you are a part of Medicare on Nov. 1st, again of your 65th year. 

Once that has been established, you need to have acquired both Part A (IN-Patient) and also Part B (OUT-Patient), along with the Medigap + a "Stand-Alone" Prescription Drug Plan (PDP). You'll always have the right to make a correction during the fall Annual Open Enrollment period but frankly, it is rare for someone to switch from a Medigap to an Advantage plan, especially if you experience any potentially serious health issues. Please remember that a free Advantage plan (which is govt-subsidized) will always include a steep out-of-pocket deductible every year which is your responsibility. This deductible will likely be increased due to the global inflation every new calendar year.

Shelly Hefley · Answer

This is when an agent sitting down with you is important.  I familiarize myself with your specific situation, this helps give you the best advice for which type of plan is best for you.

Dionisio Guillermo · Answer

Medigap is right for you if you frequently travel and can go to any doctor of your choice! There is an open enrollment for Medigap or Medicare Supplement plans

Steve Brauer · Answer

When someone asks me this....I remind them of the famous saying, "you get what you pay for". With MediGap plans, there are many to choose from. The only one that I recommend to people is the Plan G...which replaced Plan F in 2020, as the most comprehensive plan on the market. Other MediGap plans are less expensive, but there's a reason for that. Be VERY careful when a broker suggests Plan N or anything other than Plan G. The best time to purchase a MediGap plan is right when your Part B becomes effective. When you do that, there is no underwriting, and you enjoy the best pricing.

Answered by Steve Brauer on May 7, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ & CA

Answered by Steve Brauer Medicare Insurance Agent

Todd Bostic · Answer

Sometimes it just depends on the person, their age, and their health. If a person is young goes to the doctor a lot, get one at 65. I would also say it depends on finances, because you can also get an Medicare Advantage that doesn't cost anything and get an Indemnity plan to go with it to cover your expenses should you have any like hospital, ambulance, and there are some that cover doctors. But it all depends on your finances if you are not healthy.

Answered by Todd Bostic on May 28, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, AL, AZ & 12 other states

Answered by Todd Bostic Medicare Insurance Agent

Jerry Cohen · Answer

All Medicare supplements have been standardized by the Federal government meaning that for a given letter of the alphabet all insuers must provide exactly the same benefits. For most people the choice is pretty simple...if they want the benefits given in a specific letter of the alphabet it probably makes the most sense to select the plan with the lowest cost.

Answered by Jerry Cohen on May 12, 2025

Broker Licensed in NY

Answered by Jerry Cohen Medicare Insurance Agent

William Scott · Answer

Most people that purchase Medigap policies purchase them based on on their comfort level and desire to not be bothered by costs when they visit their primary doctor or if they travel a lot, prefer the convenience of knowing they can see any doctor that’s accepts Medicare in the country. 

Paying one flat fee per month is all they wish to deal with during their busy lives.

The best time to purchase a Medigap policy is when you become eligible. If you wait to purchase it outside your eligibility, you’re just adding extra unnecessary costs to your budget.

Kelly Linster · Answer

Medigap plans are standardized benefits. Meaning whether you purchase company A or companies X,Y or Z they will all fill in the gaps of Medicare the exact same way.

Humara Riaz · Answer

Do you have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)?
	•	Medigap only works with Original Medicare, not with Medicare Advantage plans.

2. Do you want help paying out-of-pocket costs?
	•	Medigap helps cover:
	•	Deductibles
	•	Copayments
	•	Coinsurance
	•	Foreign travel emergencies (some plans)

3. Do you want to see any doctor that accepts Medicare?
	•	Unlike many Medicare Advantage plans, Medigap lets you visit any provider nationwide who accepts Medicare—no network restrictions.

4. Do you travel often within the U.S. or abroad?
	•	Medigap is a great fit if you want freedom and flexibility, especially while travel
During Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period:
	•	Starts the first month you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B.

Kimberly Hargis · Answer

If you can afford the monthly payment, a Medigap plan is the route I would recommend. When you turn 65 is the best rates and guaranteed issue when aging in. If you’re younger than 65 and not on Medicare, it’s quite expensive.

Answered by Kimberly Hargis on May 17, 2025

Broker Licensed in TN, FL & KY

Answered by Kimberly Hargis Medicare Insurance Agent

How do I know if a Medigap policy is right for me, and what's the best time to buy one?

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