Changing Medicare Supplement Plans

When can I change my medicare Supplement Plan

Changing Medicare Supplement Plans is not difficult, but for most people there will be an underwriting process and you could be turned down.  Notice I said most people, there are some specific states and conditions that make the underwriting unnecessary.  You can call us to discuss your specific problem any time at 844-528-8688, but please keep reading to see the detailed information answering the question “When Can I change my Medicare supplement Plan?”

Changing Medicare Supplement Plans | Underwriting

Once you are outside of your Medicare Supplement open enrollment, the rules change.  There are some circumstance’s that will dictate a guarantee issue situation when changing Medicare supplement plans and certain states have their own rules regarding what you need to do to change Medicare supplement plans

For most of the people changing Medicare supplement plans, there is an underwriting process and they will be asked medical and pharmaceutical questions.  The questions will be asked during the application and then most likely followed up by a phone call from an underwriter.

Underwriting questions do vary from company to company but most have the same knock-out questions, which means that if you answer yes to any of those, you will not qualify for their Medicare Supplement Plan.  Here are some examples of those types of questions:

At any time, have you been medically diagnosed, treated, or had surgery for any of the following?

1. congestive heart failure, un-operated aneurysm, defibrillator
2. Parkinson’s Disease, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, ​multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy
3. Chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, or kidney disease requiring dialysis?
4. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)?
5. Internal cancer, lymphoma or melanoma?
6. Have you been advised by a medical professional to have treatment, further diagnostic evaluation, diagnostic testing or any surgery that has not been performed?

The list above is not all inclusive but just a sample.  There are some companies that have specific knock-out questions for certain issues such as diabetes, or other conditions.  For the company specific underwriting questions, it is best to call us at 844-528-8688 to discuss the company you are considering.

Guarantee Issue Medicare Supplement Plans

There are some instances where you have the right to change or sign-up for a Medicare supplement plan with no underwriting.  These are called guaranteed issue are dictated by CMS (Medicare) and are the same for every state.  The table below is straight from the Medicare.gov website.

An insurance company can’t refuse to sell you a Medigap policy under the following situations:

Guaranteed issue right situation…	You have the right to buy…	When to apply for a Medigap policy…
#1: You are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, and your plan is leaving Medicare or stops giving care in your area, or you move out of the plan’s service area.	Medigap Plan A, B, C, F, K, or L that is sold in your state by any insurance company.   You only have this right if you switch to Original Medicare rather than joining another Medicare Advantage Plan.	As early as 60 calendar days before the date your health care coverage will end, but no later than 63 calendar days after your health care coverage ends. Medigap coverage can’t start until your Medicare Advantage Plan coverage ends.
#2: You have Original Medicare and an employer group health plan (including retiree or COBRA coverage) or union coverage that pays after Medicare pays and that plan is ending.   Note: In this situation, you may have additional rights under state law.	Medigap Plan A, B, C, F, K, or L that is sold in your state by any insurance company.   If you have COBRA coverage, you can either buy a Medigap policy right away or wait until the COBRA coverage ends.	No later than 63 calendar days after the latest of these 3 dates:   Date the coverage ends Date on the notice you get telling you that coverage is ending (if you get one) Date on a claim denial, if this is the only way you know that your coverage ended
#3: You have Original Medicare and a Medicare SELECT policy. You move out of the Medicare SELECT policy’s service area.   You can keep your Medigap policy, or you may want to switch to another Medigap policy.	Medigap Plan A, B, C, F, K, or L that is sold by any insurance company in your state or the state you are moving to.	As early as 60 calendar days before the date your health care coverage will end, but no later than 63 calendar days after your health care coverage ends.
#4: (Trial Right) You joined a Medicare Advantage Plan or Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) when you were first eligible for Medicare Part A at 65, and within the first year of joining, you decide you want to switch to Original Medicare.	Any Medigap policy that is sold in your state by any insurance company.	As early as 60 calendar days before the date your coverage will end, but no later than 63 calendar days after your coverage ends.   Note: Your rights may last for an extra 12 months under certain circumstances.
#5: (Trial Right) You dropped a Medigap policy to join a Medicare Advantage Plan (or to switch to a Medicare SELECT policy) for the first time; you have been in the plan less than a year, and you want to switch back.	The Medigap policy you had before you joined the Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare SELECT policy, if the same insurance company you had before still sells it.   If your former Medigap policy isn’t available, you can buy a Medigap Plan A, B, C, F, K or L that is sold in your state by any insurance company.	As early as 60 calendar days before the date your coverage will end, but no later than 63 calendar days after your coverage ends.   Note: Your rights may last for an extra 12 months under certain circumstances.
#6: Your Medigap insurance company goes bankrupt and you lose your coverage, or your Medigap policy coverage otherwise ends through no fault of your own.	Medigap Plan A, B, C, F, K, or L that is sold in your state by any insurance company.	No later than 63 calendar days from the date your coverage ends.
#7: You leave a Medicare Advantage Plan or drop a Medigap policy because the company hasn’t followed the rules, or it misled you.	Medigap Plan A, B, C, F, K, or L that is sold in your state by any insurance company.	No later than 63 calendar days from the date your coverage ends.

Changing Medicare Supplement Plans | State Rules

Like it was mentioned earlier in the article, some states have state specific rules about changing Medicare Supplement plans with no medical underwriting.  See below:

Birthday rule for changing Medicare Supplement Plans

• California
• Oregon

Both of these states have what is called the “birthday rule”.  This rule allows you to change Medicare supplement plans without medical underwriting to another Medigap plan with the same or lesser benefit package inside a 30 day window following your birthday.

Anniversary Rule

• Missouri

For Missouri Medicare supplement plan holders, you can switch plans during the 30 days of your plans anniversary month.  For instance if you started your plan on June 1st you would have to switch by June 30th.  You must choose a plan of equal or lesser benefits.

Year round guaranteed Issue

Changing your Medicare Supplement Plan

When you are looking to change Medicare Supplement plans, it is best to get our unbiased advise.  We carry all the top medicare supplement companies in 43 states, and there is never a fee for our services.  Call 844-528-8688 or send us an email from our contact us page.

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