What if I miss my Medigap Open Enrollment Period?
Outside of your Medigap Open Enrollment Period:
- You may have to pay more for a policy.
- Fewer policy options may be available to you.
- The insurance company is allowed to deny you a policy if you don’t meet their medical underwriting requirements.
There are certain situations where you may be able to buy a Medigap policy outside of your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. Situations where an insurance company can’t deny you a Medigap policy are called “guaranteed issue rights” or “Medigap protections.” What are guaranteed issue rights?
Check with your State Insurance Department to see if you can buy a Medigap policy outside of your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. You may have additional rights under state law.
What if I have Medicare because of a disability or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)?
If you’re under 65 and have Medicare because of a disability or ESRD, you might not be able to buy a Medigap policy until you turn 65. Federal law generally doesn’t require insurance companies to sell Medigap policies to people under 65. However, in some states insurance companies do offer Medigap policies to people under 65. Check with your State Insurance Department about what rights you might have under state law. Which states offer Medigap policies to people under 65?
