Making Changes to Your Medicare Supplement Without Underwriting

Seniors in living-room discussing making changes to their Medicare Supplement without Underwriting.

One of the only times you have guaranteed rights to a Medicare supplement plan (also called a Medigap plan) is during your Initial Enrollment Period. Though the Initial Enrollment Period has many uses, Medigap Open Enrollment is technically just an overlap. Medicare Supplements can be written up to 6 months before and 6 months after the 65th birthday.

During this time, no Medigap insurance carrier can reject your application for any reason, which includes pre-existing conditions. You are not subject to medical underwriting during this Initial Enrollment Period.

Your age and health condition when buying a Medigap policy may impact which Medigap plan you select. (You may enroll later than 65 if you have postponed Medicare Part B coverage because you have other creditable health insurance.)

Of course, your current needs may not be the same for the rest of your life, so there are a few reasons you may want to switch Medigap plans.

In this article, we will discuss what medical underwriting is and when it can affect your Medigap coverage. We’ll also talk about how to change your Medigap plan without going through medical underwriting.

Reasons You May Want to Switch Medigap Plans

The need to switch plans is not uncommon. As individuals age, their healthcare needs also change. While it is beneficial to already have a plan that addresses those increased needs, it is still possible to change your plan after enrolling.

Let’s discuss some reasons why you may want to switch your Medigap plan.

  1. You don’t need the benefits it offers.

In this case, you signed up for benefits that you are paying for, but have no need for. As stated earlier, you may want to consider keeping this plan for future needs, but if finances are an issue, you may want to consider downgrading to a less expensive policy that offers less coverage.

  1. You need more benefits.

This is the most common reason to change Medicare Supplement plans. When individuals initially enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan, which was probably around age 65, they may not have had the medical needs that they have today.

A cheaper plan with less coverage is appealing early on, but it may not be enough later in life.

  1. You want to change your insurance company.

Medicare Supplement plans are standardized. That means that Plan F is Plan F, no matter which carrier you purchase it from. The plan remains the same; the only difference is the premium individuals pay.

If your current carrier continues to raise its premium year after year, you may find that your carrier is charging much more than other companies.

  1. You want a policy that costs less.

While Medicare Supplement plans will never change, prices will increase as individuals age. After several years, individuals may find that they can no longer afford the policy.

When Guaranteed Issue Rights Apply

No matter in which part of the United States you reside, you have guaranteed issue rights to a Medicare Supplement policy under the following seven instances:

  1. You are enrolled in a Part C Medicare Advantage plan that is being discontinued altogether or in the area where you reside.
  2. You have Medicare Parts A and B plus a group policy and that group policy is ending.
  3. You have Medicare Parts A and B, as well as a Medicare Select policy, but you are moving from the coverage area.
  4. You signed up for a Part C or PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) less than one year ago and decide to switch. (This is called you “Medicare Trial Right.”)
  5. You switch from a Medigap plan to a Part C plan but want to switch back in less than one year. (Also part of your “Trial Right.”)
  6. Your Medigap policy is canceled, unrelated to any fault of your own.
  7. You end your current coverage with either a Medigap or Medicare Advantage carrier because you were misled by the company or they broke policy rules.

If any of these apply to your situation, you may change Medicare Supplement plans without having to pass medical underwriting.

United States travel destinations on map pinned, showing the States with Unique Policies.
There are just a few states with added guaranteed issue rights.

States with Unique Policies

There are a 7 states with added guaranteed issue rights, listed below with description of added issue rights:

In Maine, you may switch your Medicare Supplement plan if you have had less than 90 days in a coverage gap since you first enrolled in a Medicare Supplement policy.

In Oregon and California, you may switch Medicare Supplement plans 30 days prior to your birthday or 60 days after your birthday, every year. But you are only allowed to switch if the new wanted plan has the same or less coverage than your current plan.

Missouri has a similar rule as Oregon and California, but it revolves around the anniversary of your Medicare Supplement plan enrollment. Medicare Supplement policyholders may switch their Medicare Supplement plan carrier for 60 days around their initial enrollment anniversary. Note that this does not apply to switching plans, but switching carriers only. This allows the member to switch to a carrier with a cheaper premium.

Connecticut, New York, and Washington may have the most advantageous guaranteed issue rights. There, members may switch Medicare Supplement plans at any time and are guaranteed issuance with no medical underwriting. New York Medicare specifically creates a massive demand for these changes considering its population and high Medicare Supplement costs.

What if I can’t afford my current plan but don’t pass medical underwriting?

If there is no way for you to afford your current plan, but you do not have the benefit of skipping medical underwriting, you still have some options. You may need to switch to a Part C Medicare Advantage plan. If you live in a rural area, this may mean that you have difficulty finding providers in your area and you may need to travel for care. While that is not ideal, you must remember that some coverage is better than no coverage at all!


We’re here to help you find the best plan for your needs. If you think you may need to change plans, call us. Our agents are friendly and knowledgeable with many years of experience helping people like you make educated decisions about their future health care coverage.

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