Some years after you’ve already bought a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy, you may question whether you made the best choice. Your health needs could have changed, or maybe the premiums have gone up. But if you want to switch, you’ll need to be mindful of the timing. Below, this Supplemental insurance broker in Northwest Indiana is going to explain how that timing works.

Your Medigap Open enrollment period is the best time to switch.

For most people, the easiest time to choose or change a Medigap plan happens only once. This is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period.

It starts the month you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part B. From that point, you have six full months during which insurance companies must accept you into any Medigap plan they sell. This six-month window is extremely valuable because it gives you complete freedom to compare plans without the fear that you will be turned away.

Once those six months pass, the rules change. This is why this period is called the “golden window” for Medigap decisions. You may never have this much flexibility again.

What should you expect after your Medigap enrollment window closes?

Once your Open Enrollment Period ends, insurance companies can require medical underwriting. They can check your health history to decide whether to accept your application and how much to charge. If you have certain health conditions or ongoing treatments, they may increase your premium or deny your application entirely.

This is where switching becomes more challenging. Even someone who has had a Medigap plan for years does not automatically get approved for a different one once underwriting applies. And because health needs tend to change with age, the risk of denial increases the longer you wait.

Many people stay with their current Medigap plan even if the premium increases simply because they are worried that they will not qualify for another option. Some also fear that they will give up a guaranteed policy for one that may not accept them.

Switching is possible after open enrollment. But the process becomes more unpredictable, so you must know what to expect before you start. An experienced Supplemental insurance broker in Northwest Indiana can help you with that.

What situations let you change Medigap plans with no underwriting?

Outside your initial Open Enrollment Period, there are some situations where you have a legal right to switch to a Medigap plan without going through medical underwriting. These opportunities come from specific circumstances called guaranteed issue rights, which require insurance companies to accept your Medigap application.

One example is if you joined a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan when you first became eligible for Medicare but decided within the first 12 months that it is not for you. If you switch back to Original Medicare during that first year, you can buy some Medigap plans sold in your state. Under these “trial rights,” insurance companies must treat your enrollment as a guaranteed issue.

Another situation where guaranteed issue rights apply is when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your service area or makes major changes to its coverage. If MA is no longer available to you and you must return to Original Medicare, you can apply for a Medigap plan without underwriting.

Some states also offer extra opportunities to switch Medigap plans once you already have one. For example, states with a “birthday rule” (or similar guaranteed-issue window) let you change to another Medigap plan around your birthday each year without underwriting. Not every state offers them, and some require that the new plan provide the same or fewer benefits than your current one.

In Indiana, this rule will take effect on January 1, 2026. An experienced Supplemental insurance broker in Northwest Indiana can help you understand how to take advantage of it once it is available.

Looking for a Supplemental insurance broker in Northwest Indiana?

If you want to switch your Medigap plan, do not hesitate to contact an experienced team at Senior Care Insurance Services. As the premier Supplemental insurance broker in Northwest Indiana, our licensed agents can explain your options and help you make an informed decision. Contact us today to get started.