Guaranteed Issue Rights in some States Are More Favorable than Others

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, changes to your Medigap Plan made outside the Open Enrollment Period may limit your plan choices.

Fortunately, Guaranteed Issue rights offer relief if your coverage is lost due to a qualifying event, allowing you to choose a plan even if you have a pre-existing condition. But, these rights may differ across states based on your situation.

Let's look at Guaranteed Issue rights and how they vary from state to state.

What Are Guaranteed Issue Rights?

Guaranteed Issue Rights, also called Medigap Protections, are your rights in specific situations that permit you to choose any Medicare Supplement (

Medigap

) plan without medical underwriting.

In medical underwriting, insurance companies examine your medical history, including your medical records and prescription history, to determine whether to offer insurance and at what cost.

If you have guaranteed issue rights, insurance companies:

When Do You Have Guaranteed Issue Rights?

Guaranteed Issue Rights are only available under specific conditions, so it's good to enroll in a Medigap or Medicare Supplement plan during your

Medigap Open Enrollment Period

.

You're eligible for guaranteed issue rights under the following situations:

In a similar vein, you have Trial Rights 1 and 2:

Note: There may be times when more than one of the situations above applies to you. When this happens, you can choose the guaranteed issue right that gives you the best choice.

What Happens if Your Medicare Supplement Plan Discontinues Your Coverage?

If your insurance provider moves out of your service area, goes bankrupt, or discontinues your coverage for reasons that don't involve you, then:

To apply for a plan change with guaranteed issue rights, you must have the following information:

*Note: If you're eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020, you cannot use guaranteed issue rights to enroll in Medicare Supplement Plan F.

What Happens if Your Employer Plan Ends?

If your employer group health plan or union coverage is ending, you can choose most Medigap plans* sold by any insurance provider in your state. Don't bank on your retirement plan or

COBRA

to cover you, as they might not be considered

creditable coverage

.

The latest you may apply for a Medigap policy is 63 calendar days after one of the following three events:

Note: Under certain conditions, your rights may be extended for 12 months (To learn more about this,

talk with one of our advisors

).

When applying for a Medigap plan, keep a record of the following items:

You may need to submit some or all of these documents with your Medigap application to prove your guaranteed issue right.

If You Voluntarily Lose Your Group Coverage

If you lose your insurance coverage without canceling it or due to non-payment, it's considered involuntary, and you may be eligible for guaranteed issued rights.

However, if you choose to leave your group coverage voluntarily, keep the following information handy while applying for a Medigap plan:

What Happens if Your Insurance Provider Misleads You?

If an insurance provider misleads you or violates the regulations for Medicare Supplement plans, you may be eligible for guaranteed issue rights to enroll in a new plan.

To claim this, you may have to file a complaint with Medicare, and if your appeal is approved, you'll receive a guaranteed right to enroll in a new plan.

However, you must apply for your new Medigap plan within 63 days of your coverage ending.

How Do Medicare Guaranteed Issue Rights Differ by State?

As a federal program, Medicare allows states to impose additional rules as long as they adhere to the fundamental Medicare standards. Some states have implemented favorable regulations to assist seniors in adjusting their Medigap plans.

Here's a brief on different state-specific guaranteed issue rights.

1. Annual or Continuous Guaranteed Issue Rights

Missouri — Once a year, during your policy anniversary, you can switch to a Medigap plan with similar or lesser benefits. This window of opportunity starts 30 days before your policy anniversary and ends 30 days after.

Washington — Has year-round guaranteed issue rights. You can switch to a similar or lower-benefit plan at any time.

California and Oregon — These states follow the Birthday Rule, which means that you can change your plan up to 30 days before and 30 days after your birthday each year.

Massachusetts — Has a state-specific Medigap Open Enrollment Window from February 1 to March 31 each year.

2. Voluntary group termination

In some states, voluntarily terminating a group health plan does not grant guaranteed issue rights. But, some states allow the transition from employer coverage to Medigap using guaranteed issue rights. These states are:

State-Specific Medicare Guaranteed Issue Rights for Group Termination

‎

In addition to state-specific guaranteed issue rights, some states also provide continuous or annual open enrollment periods to help Medicare beneficiaries change their plans.

3. Annual or Continuous Open Enrollment Period

Some states allow you to change Medigap plans at any time or at specific times without undergoing medical underwriting. These states are:

Guaranteed Issue Rights and Open Enrollment Window

‎

What Documents Do You Need When Using Your Guaranteed Issue Rights?

If you're eligible for guaranteed issue rights, you'll need to provide documentation before switching plans.

For a Medigap-to-Medigap policy change, you'll need the following:

For a Medicare Advantage-to-Supplement policy change, you'll need the following:

Stay up-to-date with Your State Regulations to Optimize Your Medicare Benefits

Guaranteed Issue rights are important to the Medicare program, allowing you to access essential medical coverage during life events or circumstances that result in the loss of your existing plan.

However, Guaranteed Issue Rights vary among states, with some offering more favorable regulations for seniors and those with disabilities. Learn your state's regulations to make the most of the benefits provided by Medicare.

If you have any questions or need assistance in understanding your guaranteed issue rights, call us at 1-888-376-2028.

Our team of experts

is dedicated to helping you make informed decisions about your healthcare coverage, so you can get the necessary support and treatment.