I have Medicare A and B, which was secondary to my large group health plan. My spouse passed away in late June 2025, and his company is providing COBRA coverage for six months, through January. If I wait until then, will I still have guaranteed issue for a Medicare supplement, or do I have only 63 days from June 30 (until Sept 1) to enroll? I'm in CO
Answered by 21 licensed agents
You must enroll within 63 days from the termination of your spouse's coverage to qualify for guaranteed issue. You lost your creditable coverage when the plan was terminated. you must Enroll within 63 says
No, you likely will not have guaranteed issue for a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan if you wait until your COBRA coverage ends in January, because Medicare considers COBRA not to be creditable coverage. You need to secure a Medigap plan now, within six months of your Part B special enrollment period ending on June 30, 2025, to avoid the risk of the 63-day rule.
Because COBRA is not considered creditable coverage, you GI window began when your employer coverage ended on June 30th. Your Guarantee Issue period was only for the 63 days following.
While Medicare allows for certain Special Enrollment Periods, contact your CO Department of Insurance as states vary on some criteria which may or may not impact your situation. You can also call 1 (800) Medicare 24 hours a day to speak to them and get specific information as well at the federal level.
You have a 63-day guaranteed issue window for a Medicare supplement following the loss of active employer coverage, and COBRA is not considered active employment coverage for that purpose. If you already have Medicare A and B, you likely need to enroll in a Medigap plan within 63 days of when the active group coverage ended (late June), or you may lose your guaranteed issue rights, even if you continue COBRA.
No, likely you will not have a guaranteed issue period for a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan if you wait until January 2026 for your COBRA to end, because COBRA is generally not considered "creditable coverage" for Medigap purposes. To qualify for guaranteed issue, you must enroll within 63 days of losing your employer's group health coverage. If you wait until January, more than six months will have passed, and you will likely lose your right to a guaranteed issue Medigap policy.
Because you already have A and B, you are subject to the 63 day window for losing employer coverage for the Guaranteed issue period for a Medicare Supplement. Normally, Cobra will be costly and will not excuse the penalty period for picking up a Part D plan either.
I used to be licensed in Colorado, but I’m not so suggest this passed to someone that’s licensed in Colorado. Some Medicare supplement plans do very by state.
According to Medicare.gov, COBRA is not considered creditable coverage so therefore you cannot go more than 63 days without proof of prior coverage in order to be guaranteed issue for a Medicare Supplement Plan (Medigap). You must get a plan now!!!
Guaranteed issue for Medicare supplement policies is typically available only during your initial enrollment. That period is a seven month window surrounding your 65th birth month. Three months before your birth month, your birth month, and three months after your birth month.
Cobra is not creditible for medicare so you should have gone onto it when your husband passed. You should reach out to a local broker in your area to get set up.
You will have loss of creditable coverage. This will provide a special enrollment period. There will be a form you will need to have filled out by your husbands hr to verify that you had continuing coverage.
Cobra is not considered as creditable coverage by Medicare. You have 63 days to enroll into Medicare Supplement Plan with a guarantee issue. Unless your Medicare Part B started within the last 6 months. Then you have 6 months to sign up for Medicare Supplement Plan with a guarantee issue. Hope this helps!
You will have Guranteed Issue upon losing Cobra coverage. You are able to use the Special Election Period to enroll into a medi-gap/Medicare Supplement Plan without Underwriting!
You have a Guaranteed Issue right to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan when your COBRA coverage ends in January. Since you're losing employer-sponsored coverage, you're eligible for a 63-day window to enroll in a Medigap plan without medical underwriting. This means you can choose from specific plans (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, or L) without being denied coverage or charged more due to pre-existing conditions .
Key Points:
• Guaranteed Issue Window: You have 63 days from the date your COBRA coverage ends (January) to enroll in a Medigap plan.
• Eligible Plans: You can choose from Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, or L, depending on your eligibility and plan availability.
• No Medical Underwriting: Insurance companies can't deny you coverage or charge more based on your health status during this period.
Action Steps:
• Mark Your Calendar: Note the end date of your COBRA coverage (January) and plan to enroll in a Medigap plan within the 63-day window.
• Gather Documents: Prepare proof of coverage termination, such as a letter from your insurer or a disenrollment notice.
• Compare Plans: Research and compare Medigap plans from different insurance companies to find the best fit for your needs .
I’m very sorry for your loss. Since your COBRA coverage continues through January 2026, your guaranteed issue right for a Medicare supplement begins when your COBRA ends, the 63-day window to enroll starts from the actual loss of coverage, not from your spouse’s passing. This ensures you can keep COBRA until then and still qualify for a Medigap plan without medical underwriting. Hope this helps.
