Can I switch my Medigap plan without health questions?
Only at certain times. Federal law guarantees it in your first six months with Part B at 65 or older, and in situations like losing other coverage. 17 states add a yearly switching window, most tied to your birthday, and 4 let you switch any time. Otherwise, insurers can ask about your health.
State rules checked against each state insurance department, and federal rules against Medicare.gov. State rules verified 09/23/2026. Answer a few questions to see what applies to you and your exact dates.
Three ways to switch without health questions
Outside these, an insurer can ask about your health and can turn you down or charge more. Whatever applies to you, keep your current coverage until a new policy is approved.
Your Medigap Open Enrollment
You get one six-month Medigap Open Enrollment. It starts the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older. During it, any insurer must sell you any Medigap plan it offers in your state, without health questions. It happens once, not every year. If you’re on Medicare before 65, a new one starts when you turn 65.
Source: Medicare.gov: Get Medigap basics.
Federal guaranteed-issue rights
These apply in every state. Each one is triggered by something that happens to your coverage, and each has a deadline.
| Your situation | What you can buy | When to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare, stops covering your area, or you move out of its service area, and you return to Original Medicare | Plan A, B, D, G, K or L* | From 60 days before to 63 days after your plan coverage ends |
| Employer, retiree or union coverage that pays after Medicare is ending | Plan A, B, D, G, K or L* | No later than 63 days after the latest of: the date coverage ends, the date on the notice, or the date of a claim denial. With COBRA, buy now or when COBRA ends |
| You have a Medicare SELECT plan and move out of its service area | Plan A, B, D, G, K or L* in your current or new state | From 60 days before to 63 days after your coverage ends |
| Trial right: you joined Medicare Advantage when you first got Medicare at 65, and leave within 12 months | Any Medigap plan sold in your state | From 60 days before to 63 days after your plan coverage ends |
| Trial right: you dropped Medigap to join Medicare Advantage or SELECT for the first time, and leave within 12 months | Your old policy, if the insurer still sells it; otherwise Plan A, B, D, G, K or L* | From 60 days before to 63 days after your plan coverage ends |
| Your Medigap insurer goes bankrupt, or your policy ends through no fault of your own | Plan A, B, D, G, K or L* | No later than 63 days after your coverage ends |
| You left Medicare Advantage or dropped Medigap because the company misled you or broke the rules | Plan A, B, D, G, K or L* | No later than 63 days after your coverage ends |
* If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, Plan C or F instead of D or G.
Source: Medicare.gov: Choosing a Medigap Policy.
Your state’s rules
17 states add a yearly switching window, most tied to your birthday. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont let you switch any time, and Maine and Washington allow it within limits. Open your state for the plain answer.
AlabamaNot as a yearly right.
Alabama follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
AlaskaNot as a yearly right.
Alaska follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
ArizonaNot as a yearly right.
Arizona follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
ArkansasNot as a yearly right.
Arkansas follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
CaliforniaYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions for 60 days starting on your birthday, every year. You can move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits, with any insurer. If your Medicare Advantage plan cuts benefits, raises your costs, or drops your doctor without good cause, California gives you a right to buy a Medigap plan from the same insurer or an affiliate.
ColoradoNot as a yearly right.
Colorado follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
ConnecticutYes, any time.
Continuous guaranteed issue: insurers must issue Medigap policies at any time of year to applicants 65 and older, with no medical underwriting. For enrollees under 65, continuous guaranteed issue applies to Plan A and, where the insurer offers them, Plans B, C and D.
DelawareYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions from 30 days before to 30 days after your birthday, every year. You can move to a plan with the same or lesser benefits, with any insurer. When you leave Medicare Advantage from October 15 to December 7 or January 1 to March 31, Delaware gives you a right to buy a Medigap plan. Insurers can still use your health to set the price.
District of ColumbiaNot as a yearly right.
District of Columbia follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
FloridaNot as a yearly right.
Florida follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
GeorgiaNot as a yearly right.
Georgia follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
HawaiiNot as a yearly right.
Hawaii follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
IdahoYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions for 63 days starting on your birthday, every year. You can move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits, with any insurer.
IllinoisYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions for 45 days starting on your birthday, every year. You can move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits, with your current insurer or one of its affiliates licensed in Illinois. Only from age 65 through 75. Separately, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois currently sells certain plans year-round to people 65 and older without health questions, though the law doesn’t require it.
IndianaYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions from 31 days before to 31 days after your birthday, every year. You can move to the same plan letter (for example, G to G), with any insurer that offers that plan. Indiana changed this window in 2026. Confirm your exact dates with an advisor before you act.
IowaNot as a yearly right.
Iowa follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
KansasNot as a yearly right.
Kansas follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
KentuckyYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions for 60 days starting on your birthday, every year. You can move to the same plan letter, with any insurer. You must already have a Medigap policy.
LouisianaYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions for 63 days starting on your birthday, every year. You can move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits, with your current insurer or an affiliate.
MaineYes, any time, to equal or lesser benefits.
You can move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits at any time, with any insurer, as long as you haven’t gone more than 90 days without Medigap. Every insurer must sell Plan A without health questions during one month each year. Each insurer picks its own month, and richer plans aren’t required.
MarylandYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions for 31 days starting on your birthday, every year. You can move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits, with any insurer.
MassachusettsYes, any time.
Continuous guaranteed issue: insurers must issue a Medigap policy to applicants 65 and older at any time of year, and the state also runs an annual open enrollment period from February 1 to March 31. Massachusetts uses its own standardized plans under a federal waiver.
MichiganNot as a yearly right.
Michigan follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
MinnesotaNot as a yearly right.
Minnesota follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch. If you’re 65 to 70 and have never had Medigap, you get a one-time chance to buy without health questions from October 15 to December 7. A premium surcharge applies for as long as you keep the policy: 15% in 2026, rising 5 points a year to 35% from 2029.
MississippiNot as a yearly right.
Mississippi follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
MissouriYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions from 30 days before to 30 days after your policy’s anniversary, every year. You can move to the same plan letter, with any insurer. The new policy replaces your current one; apply inside the window.
MontanaNot as a yearly right.
Montana follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
NebraskaNot as a yearly right.
Nebraska follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
NevadaYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions for 60 days starting the first day of your birth month, every year. You can move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits, with any insurer.
New HampshireNot as a yearly right.
New Hampshire follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
New JerseyNot as a yearly right.
New Jersey follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
New MexicoStarting in 2027, once a year.
Starting January 1, 2027, you can switch without health questions for 60 days starting the first day of your birth month, every year. You can move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits, with any insurer. You must already have a Medigap policy.
New YorkYes, any time.
Continuous guaranteed issue and community rating: insurers must accept Medigap applicants at any time of year without medical underwriting, and the same protection extends to Medicare beneficiaries under 65.
North CarolinaNot as a yearly right.
North Carolina follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
North DakotaNot as a yearly right.
North Dakota follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
OhioNot as a yearly right.
Ohio follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
OklahomaYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions for 60 days starting on your birthday, every year. You can move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits, with any insurer. No gap in Medigap coverage longer than 90 days since you first enrolled.
OregonYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions from 30 days before to 30 days after your birthday, every year. You can move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits, with any insurer.
PennsylvaniaNot as a yearly right.
Pennsylvania follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
Rhode IslandYes, once a year in the fall.
You can switch without health questions every year from October 15 to December 7, with new coverage starting January 1. You can move to any available Medigap plan, with any insurer. No gap longer than 90 days in your Medigap or Medicare Advantage coverage since you first enrolled in Medicare. New coverage starts January 1.
South CarolinaNot as a yearly right.
South Carolina follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
South DakotaNot as a yearly right.
South Dakota follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
TennesseeNot as a yearly right.
Tennessee follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
TexasNot as a yearly right.
Texas follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
UtahYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions for 60 days starting on your birthday, every year. You can move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits, with your current insurer only.
VermontYes, any time.
Vermont law bars medical underwriting for Medigap: premiums must be community rated and the rules may not permit medical underwriting or screening, so applicants are not charged more or refused for health reasons (8 V.S.A. 4051, recodified from 4080e effective September 1, 2025). Insurers may set a different community rate for people eligible by disability than for people eligible by age, and enrollment timing follows the DFR Medicare Supplement minimum standards regulation.
VirginiaYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions for 60 days starting on your birthday, every year. You can move to a plan with the same benefits, with any insurer.
WashingtonYes, any time, within your plan group.
You can switch at any time without health questions within the same plan group: Plan A to Plan A, or any plan B through N to another plan B through N. Moving up from Plan A isn’t settled in the law, so confirm first.
West VirginiaYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions for 60 days starting the first day of your birth month, every year. You can move to a plan with the same or lesser benefits, with your current insurer or an affiliate. Your current policy must have been in force for 24 months in a row.
WisconsinNot as a yearly right.
Wisconsin follows federal rules only. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can ask about your health when you switch.
WyomingYes, once a year.
You can switch without health questions for 63 days starting on your birthday, every year. You can move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits, with any insurer.
Common questions
Can I switch my Medigap plan without health questions?
Only at certain times. Federal law guarantees it during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment, which starts the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older, and in specific situations such as losing employer coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan leaving your area. 17 states add a yearly switching window and 4 let you switch any time. Otherwise, an insurer can ask about your health.
Which states have a Medigap birthday rule?
States with a yearly window tied to your birthday or policy anniversary: California, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri (policy anniversary), Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. New Mexico’s starts in 2027. Rhode Island’s yearly window runs from October 15 to December 7 instead. Most limit you to equal or lesser benefits, and some require the same insurer or the same plan letter.
Can I go back to Medigap after trying Medicare Advantage?
Yes, if you use your trial right. If you joined Medicare Advantage when you first got Medicare at 65, or dropped a Medigap plan to try Medicare Advantage for the first time, you can return to Original Medicare within 12 months and buy Medigap without health questions. Apply as early as 60 days before your plan coverage ends and no later than 63 days after.
Can I keep my Medigap plan if I move to another state?
Yes. A standard Medigap plan works in every state, so you can keep it when you move, though your premium may change to the rate for your new area. A Medicare SELECT plan is different: moving out of its service area gives you a right to buy a new plan within 63 days of losing coverage.
Does Medigap Open Enrollment happen every year?
No. Medigap Open Enrollment happens once: the six months starting the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older. The fall Medicare Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, is for Medicare Advantage and drug plans, and doesn’t give you a right to switch Medigap in most states.
Get your Medigap options
A licensed advisor checks your windows against your dates and shows each insurer’s rate-increase history before you choose. No cost.
Smart Insurance Agents is an independent insurance agency and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. This page gives general information, not legal advice. Insurers make the final decision on every application; confirm details with an advisor or your state insurance department before you act.