MHI – Q: Aren’t there some exceptions to the Medigap underwriting process?

A: You won’t have to go through medical underwriting (in other words, answer any medical questions) if you apply for your Medicare Supplement (also called Medigap) plan within six months of your Part B effective date.

Like many rules and regulations, there are exceptions. Let’s look at two different “trial right” situations that allow you to purchase a Medigap plan without answering medical questions.

You can enroll in a Medigap plan without going through medical underwriting (in other words, without having to answer any medical questions) if you enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan when you first became eligible for Medicare at age 65 and then decided a Medicare Advantage plan was not for you. This opportunity is only available within your first year on the MA plan. Be sure to submit the application for the Medicare Supplement before the end of that 12 month period.

You can also enroll in a Medigap plan without going through medical underwriting if you drop a Medigap plan in order to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Some conditions apply here as well. This must be the first time you dropped a Medigap to join an MA plan. Like the previous trial right situation, you would have to make application for the Medicare Supplement within a year.