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Medigap Open Enrollment Period

by David Bynon, last updated

What is the Medigap Open Enrollment Period?

Upon initial enrollment in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, beneficiaries have a one-time, six-month period to buy a  Medicare supplement policy with guaranteed issue rights. This is the Medigap Open Enrollment Period.1Medicare.gov, “When can I buy Medigap“, Accessed September 25, 2021

Key Takeaways

  • The Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts once a person’s Medicare Part B coverage starts and lasts only six months.
  • During the Medigap Open Enrollment Period, Part B beneficiaries can enroll in Medicare supplement insurance with guaranteed-issue rights.
  • Guaranteed-issue rights protect a person from being denied supplemental insurance due to their pre-existing conditions.
  • Certain states may have special enrollment periods for Medigap outside of its Open Enrollment Period.
  • Medigap is not compatible with Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage)

When is the Medigap Open Enrollment Period?

The Medigap Open Enrollment Period (Medigap OEP) is a six-month period to enroll in Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) that starts once a beneficiary’s Medicare Part B coverage begins. Medigap policies start the 1st of the month after a beneficiary enrolls.

Beneficiaries can enroll in Medigap policies outside of the Medigap OEP, but only have the benefit of guaranteed-issue rights when enrolling during this one-time period.1Medicare.gov, “When can I buy Medigap“, Accessed September 25, 2021

What are Guaranteed-Issue Rights?

Guaranteed-issue rights protect beneficiaries from being denied a policy or charged extra costs because of their pre-existing health conditions. This means that during the Medigap OEP, any Medicare supplement insurance policy would be available to beneficiaries regardless of their health history. Otherwise, they would have to go through medical underwriting and that might mean they would lack eligibility for certain Medigap policies.2Medicare.gov, “Guaranteed issue rights“, Accessed September 25, 2021

Depending on the state a beneficiary lives in, they may be allowed to enroll in Medigap with guaranteed issue rights during special annual periods. For example, California and Oregon allow for a 30-day period after a person’s birthday to switch Medigap supplement policies that have equal or less coverage3Insurance.CA.gov, “Medicare Supplement Insurance ‘Medigap’“, Accessed September 25, 20214Shiba.Oregon.gov, “When can you switch Medigap plans“, Accessed September 25, 2021.

Medigap and Medicare Advantage

Medigap policies do not work with Medigap Advantage plans. It is illegal for insurance companies to sell Medigap policies while a beneficiary has Medicare Advantage5Medicare.gov, “Medigap & Medicare Advantage Plans“, Accessed September 25, 2021.

Beneficiaries have a “trial right” to buy a Medigap policy if they plan to switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to Medicare Part A and Part B within 12 months2Medicare.gov, “Guaranteed issue rights“, Accessed September 25, 2021. “Trial rights” also allow beneficiaries to get back a Medigap policy if they had it before joining and dropping a Medicare Advantage plan5Medicare.gov, “Medigap & Medicare Advantage Plans“, Accessed September 25, 2021.

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