What happens if you miss the open enrollment period for Medigap?

If you miss the open enrollment period for Medigap, you may have to go through medical underwriting to get a policy. This is significant because during the open enrollment period, which lasts for six months beginning the first month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B, you have guaranteed issue rights. This means insurance companies cannot deny your application or impose waiting periods for pre-existing conditions.

Outside of this enrollment period, insurers can impose stricter criteria based on your health. This means that they can require you to provide medical information and potentially deny you coverage or charge you higher premiums based on your health status. This underwriting process is a way for the insurance companies to assess risk before offering coverage, which can result in challenges for individuals looking to obtain Medigap coverage after the open enrollment period has concluded.