I have a guaranteed issue right.
Guaranteed issue rights (also called "Medigap protections") are rights you have in certain situations when insurance companies must offer you certain Medigap policies. In these situations, an insurance company:
In most cases, you have a guaranteed issue right when you have other health coverage that changes in some way, like when you lose the other health care coverage. In other cases, you have a "trial right" to try a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) and still buy a Medigap policy if you change your mind.
You have a guaranteed issue right (which means an insurance company can’t refuse to sell you a Medigap policy) in these situations:
You only have this right if you switch to Original Medicare rather than joining another Medicare Advantage Plan.
You can/must apply for a Medigap policy:
Medigap coverage can’t start until your Medicare Advantage Plan coverage ends.
If you have COBRA coverage, you can either buy a Medigap policy right away or wait until the COBRA coverage ends.
You can/must apply for a Medigap policy no later than 63 calendar days after the latest of these 3 dates:
Note
Your rights may last for an extra 12 months under certain circumstances.
You can/must apply for a Medigap policy:
Call the Medicare SELECT insurer for more information about your options. Find the phone number for the Medicare SELECT company.
You have the right to buy any Medigap policy that’s sold by any insurance company in your state.
You can/must apply for a Medigap policy:
Note
Your rights may last for an extra 12 months under certain circumstances.
You have the right to buy:
The Medigap policy you had before you joined the Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare SELECT policy, if the same insurance company you had before still sells it.
You can/must apply for a Medigap policy:
Note
Your rights may last for an extra 12 months under certain circumstances.
You can/must apply for a Medigap policy no later than 63 calendar days from the date your coverage ends.
You can/must apply for a Medigap policy no later than 63 calendar days from the date your coverage ends.
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.
Can I buy a Medigap policy if I lose my health care coverage?
You may have a guaranteed issue right to buy a Medigap policy. Make sure you keep these items:
You may need to send a copy of some or all of these papers with your Medigap application to prove you have a guaranteed issue right.
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan but you’re planning to return to Original Medicare, you can apply for a Medigap policy before your coverage ends. The Medigap insurer can sell it to you as long as you’re leaving the plan. Ask that the new policy take effect no later than when your Medicare Advantage enrollment ends, so you’ll have continuous coverage.
Note
The guaranteed issue rights in this section are from Federal law. These rights are for both Medigap and Medicare SELECT policies. Many states provide additional Medigap rights.
If you have group health insurance through an employer or union, your Medigap open enrollment period will start when you sign up for Part B.
It's possible to avoid or shorten waiting periods for a pre-existing condition if you buy a Medigap policy during your Medigap open enrollment period to replace "Creditable coverage (Medigap)."
If you have had at least 6 months of continuous prior creditable coverage, the Medigap insurance company can't make you wait before it covers your pre-existing condition. Many types of health care coverage can count as creditable coverage for Medigap policies, but they’ll only count if your break in coverage was no more than 63 days.
Receive more information on the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.
By contacting the phone number on this website you will be directed to a licensed insurance agent.
Source: www.medicare.gov