The short answer
Your main chance to buy any Medigap plan with no health questions is your one-time six-month open enrollment window at 65. But it's not the only one. Certain life events create guaranteed-issue rights — periods when insurers must sell you specific Medigap plans regardless of your health. Knowing these can save you if your situation changes.
These protections exist so people don't get trapped without a supplement when circumstances beyond their control disrupt their coverage.
Common guaranteed-issue triggers
Several situations open guaranteed-issue rights: your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or you move out of its service area; a Medigap insurer goes bankrupt or your coverage ends through no fault of your own; you drop a Medigap plan to try Medicare Advantage for the first time and switch back within 12 months (the trial right); or you lose certain employer or retiree coverage that supplemented Medicare.
Each right typically applies to specific plans and has a limited window, so timing matters. Our guide to Medigap guaranteed-issue rights explains which plans each situation entitles you to.
How to use a guaranteed-issue right
If one of these events happens, act within the window — guaranteed-issue rights are time-limited, and missing the window can send you back into medical underwriting. Gather documentation of the triggering event, since insurers may ask for proof.
Some states also offer extra protections beyond the federal minimums, so it's worth confirming what applies where you live. Our Medicare Supplement overview covers how to enroll when you have one of these rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Medigap guaranteed-issue right?
It's a period when insurers must sell you certain Medigap plans regardless of your health, triggered by specific events like losing coverage or a plan leaving your area.
What events open guaranteed-issue rights?
Common ones include your Advantage plan leaving or your moving out of its area, an insurer's insolvency, the 12-month Advantage trial right, and losing certain employer or retiree supplemental coverage.
How long do I have to use a guaranteed-issue right?
Windows are limited, often about 60 days around the triggering event. Act promptly and keep documentation, since missing the window can put you back into medical underwriting.
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