Medicare supplement plans don't have annual enrollment periods, so when you apply is very important.

If you're new to Medicare or you're losing your current coverage, you may qualify for a guaranteed issue right. It's a set time period when you can apply that guarantees you'll get coverage and you may get a better price on your Medicare supplement plan. 

Why it matters

During a guaranteed issue right period you can enroll in a Medicare supplement plan without the use of medical underwriting. 

Medical underwriting is when an insurance company looks at your medical history, current health and other factors to determine if you’ll likely need medical care and how much it costs. This helps determine premium costs and if the insurer will offer coverage to you. If you're deemed to be a high-cost individual, you may be charged a higher premium or denied coverage altogether. 

If you apply for a Medicare supplement plan outside of a guaranteed issue right period, you'll be subject to medical underwriting.

By avoiding medical underwriting under a guaranteed issue right, an insurer can't deny coverage or charge you a higher premium based on pre-existing medical conditions. 

When you qualify

How do you know if you qualify for a guaranteed issue right? If any of these situations apply to you, you're eligible for a guaranteed issue right. 

You're new to Medicare

You're eligible for a Medicare supplement guaranteed issue right if you're age 65 or older and you apply within six months of enrolling in Medicare Part B. 

You lost your employer group coverage and are 65 or older

You're eligible for a guaranteed issue right in a Blue Cross^® Medicare Supplement Plan A, Plan D, Plan G or Plan HD-G if you apply within 63 days of your employer canceling your employer group health plan. 

If you were eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020, you're also eligible for a guaranteed issue right in Blue Cross Medicare Supplement Plans C, F and HD-F if you apply within 63 days of your employer canceling your employer group health plan. 

This situation does not apply to Medicare Supplement Plan N.

You recently lost your Medicare Advantage coverage

You're eligible for a Medicare supplement guaranteed issue right if:

• You no longer live in your Medicare Advantage plan's service area.
• The organization offering your Medicare Advantage coverage lost their certification to sell the plan.
• You canceled your Medicare Advantage plan within 12 months of enrolling in Medicare Part A.

For the following situations, you're only eligible for Medicare Supplement Plan A and Plan D. If you were eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020, and the following situations apply, you're also eligible to enroll in Medicare Supplement Plans C, F and HD-F.

• You canceled your Medicare Advantage plan because the insurer violated their contract with you.
• You canceled your enrollment in a Medicare supplement plan and enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time. Then, you canceled the Medicare Advantage plan within 12 months. This situation also applies to Plan N.  

You recently lost your Medicare supplement coverage

For the following situations, you're only eligible for Medicare Supplement Plan A and Plan D. If you were eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020, and the following situations apply, you're also eligible to enroll in Plans C, F and HD-F. 

• The organization offering your previous Medicare supplement coverage went bankrupt.
• You canceled your previous Medicare supplement plan because the insurer violated their contract with you.
• You canceled your Medicare supplement plan for a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time, and within the first 12 months, you decide you want to switch back to your previous Medicare supplement plan.

These situations don't apply to Medicare Supplement Plan N, G or HD-G.