When Can I Change My Medicare Supplement Plan?
You can change your Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan at any time.
Compare Medicare Plans in Your Area
However, you may have a hard time getting coverage if you switch or buy a new plan after the first six months you're eligible for Medicare. That's because companies can charge higher rates or deny coverage based on your health history after this period.
Depending on where you live, you may have more chances to buy or change Medigap policies later on. You may also have an opportunity to switch your Medigap coverage or sign up without penalty after certain events.
When does Medicare Supplement open enrollment take place?
Medicare Supplement open enrollment takes place during the first six months you have Medicare.
You only get one Medicare Supplement open enrollment. After it ends, you won't have a chance to sign up or switch plans without risking a higher rate or getting denied because of a current or past health problem.
Some states have special rules that let you switch Medigap plans without penalty. You may also get the opportunity to change coverage after certain events that cause you to lose coverage through no fault of your own, such as if your Medicare Advantage plan ends or stops offering coverage where you live.
Regular Medicare open enrollment doesn't apply to Medicare Supplement plans.
During Medicare open enrollment (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7), you can change Medicare Advantage or Part D (drug coverage) plans.
However, you don't get any special protections for buying or changing Medigap plans during this period.
When can you change Medicare Supplement plans?
You can change Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans at any time.
But, companies can charge you more for the same plan because of pre-existing conditions if you buy coverage outside the first six months after you turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare. That makes switching or buying Medigap coverage a bad deal if you have a history of health problems.
Keep in mind, there are certain situations where you can buy or switch Medigap plans without facing higher rates or getting denied coverage because of a pre-existing health condition.
When can you switch Medigap plans without penalty?
Moving
Other coverage is ending
During your first year of coverage
- If you move outside the area where your Medicare Advantage or Medigap Select plan offers coverage you can buy a Medigap plan, penalty-free
Moving
- If you move outside the area where your Medicare Advantage or Medigap Select plan offers coverage you can buy a Medigap plan, penalty-free
Other coverage is ending
- If your Medicare Advantage plan no longer offers coverage where you live, you can buy a Medigap plan, penalty-free
- If your other type of coverage is ending ( employer health plan, retiree plan, COBRA, union plan)
- If your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare, you can buy a Medigap plan penalty-free
- If your Medigap company goes out of business, you can buy a Medigap plan, penalty-free
- If your Medigap or Medicare Advantage coverage ends through no fault of your own, you can buy a Medigap plan penalty-free
- If your Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan hasn't followed the rules or lied to you, you can buy a Medigap plan penalty-free
During your first year of coverage
- Free look period: For 30 days after buying a Medigap plan, you can switch to a different Medigap plan or company.
- Trial right period: After buying a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to a Medigap plan for up to one year without penalty.
Your insurance company can't cancel your Medicare Supplement plan or raise your rates if you have a health problem after your policy starts. However, your company can raise your monthly rate each year because of inflation, your age or higher business costs.
Some companies offer special deals that let you change Medigap policies without considering your health history. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) lets its customers switch between Medigap plan letters without penalty at any time of the year through its Blue to Blue program.
This makes BCBS Medigap a good choice if you want the flexibility to change your coverage later on.
State rules about changing Medigap plans
Depending on where you live, you may have extra opportunities to switch Medigap plans.
States are allowed to make their own rules about Medigap open enrollment. That means your ability to change your Medigap coverage is determined in large part by where you live.
Several states let you change your Medigap coverage around your birthday through what's called the "birthday rule". The exact amount of time you have to change coverage differs by state.
States that have the birthday rule
- California
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Missouri
- Nevada
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
Washington and Maine let you switch Medigap plans at any time during the year, and companies can't consider your health history when setting rates or approving coverage. In Missouri, you can switch plans 30 days before or after your policy anniversary.
Some states take Medigap protections even further by not allowing companies to consider your health when setting rates or approving coverage at all, called continuous guaranteed issue. This applies to everyone with Original Medicare, regardless of whether they have Medigap coverage.
States that offer continuous guaranteed issue
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Minnesota
In Maine, companies have to offer Medigap Plan A for one month per year to anyone with Original Medicare. Less than 1% of people with Medigap coverage choose Plan A because it offers less coverage than more popular plans like Plan G, Plan F or Plan N.
During this time, companies can't consider your health status when setting rates or approving coverage.
Some states also have special rules requiring Medigap companies to offer plans to people under the age of 65 who qualify for Medicare because of an illness or disability. In these states, Medicare enrollees under the age of 65 have at least one open enrollment period.
States that have Medigap open enrollment for those under age 65
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
In some states, enrollees under the age of 65 have access to year-round guaranteed coverage or other Medigap open enrollment periods.
Frequently asked questions
When can I change my Medicare Supplement plan?
You can change your Medicare Supplement plan at any time during the year. However, if you switch plans outside the first six months you're eligible for Medicare, you may have to pay a higher rate for coverage.
Is there an open enrollment period for Medicare Supplement plans?
Medicare Supplement open enrollment runs for the first six months after you start Medicare. This open enrollment period does not repeat, and you can't use the regular Medicare open enrollment period (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7) to switch or buy Medigap plans.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap?
Yes, you can switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to a Medigap plan without penalty if you've had Medicare Advantage for less than a year or in certain situations, such as if your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or you were misled about your plan's coverage details. Otherwise, you can switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare during Medicare open enrollment (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7).
After you switch to Original Medicare, you can buy a Medigap plan at any time, although you likely will pay more because companies can take your health history and pre-existing conditions into account.
Sources
Information about Medigap policies was gathered from Medicare.gov, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).
Editorial Note: We are committed to providing accurate content that helps you make informed financial decisions. Our partners have not endorsed or commissioned this content.