When is the best time to buy a Medigap policy?

Wednesday, Mar. 23rd 2011 6:57 AM

The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during your Medigap open enrollment period. This period lasts for 6 months and begins on the first day of the month in which you’re both 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. Some states have additional open enrollment periods including those for people under 65. During this period, an insurance company can’t use medical underwriting.

This means the insurance company can’t do any of the following because of your health problems: • Refuse to sell you any Medigap policy it sells • Make you wait for coverage to start (except as explained below) • Charge you more for a Medigap policy While the insurance company can’t make you wait for your coverage to start, it may be able to make you wait for coverage if you have a pre-existing condition. A preexisting condition is a health problem you have before the date a new insurance policy starts. In some cases, the Medigap insurance company can refuse to cover your out-of-pocket costs for these pre-existing health problems for up to 6 months. This is called a “pre-existing condition waiting period.” After 6 months, the Medigap policy will cover the pre-existing condition. Coverage for a pre-existing condition can only be excluded in a Medigap policy if the condition was treated or diagnosed within 6 months before the date the coverage starts under the Medigap policy. After this 6-month period, the Medigap policy will cover the condition that was excluded. Remember, for Medicare-covered services, Original Medicare will still cover the condition, even if the Medigap policy won’t cover your out-of-pocket costs, but you’re responsible for the coinsurance or copayment.

If you have a pre-existing condition and you buy a Medigap policy during your Medigap open enrollment period and you are replacing certain kinds of health coverage that counts as “creditable coverage,” it’s possible to avoid or shorten waiting periods for pre-existing conditions. Prior creditable coverage is generally any other health coverage you recently had before applying for a Medigap policy. 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 conditions. There are many types of health care coverage that may count as creditable coverage for Medigap policies, but they will only count if you didn’t have a break in coverage for more than 63 days. Talk to your Medigap insurance company. It will be able to tell you if your previous coverage will count as creditable coverage for this purpose. You can also call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

If you buy a Medigap policy when you have a guaranteed issue right (also called “Medigap protection”), the insurance company can’t use a pre-existing condition waiting period. Note: If you’re a person with Medicare under 65 and have a disability or ESRD, you might not be able to buy the Medigap policy you want, or any Medigap policy, until you turn 65. Federal law doesn’t require insurance companies to sell Medigap policies to people under 65. However, some states require Medigap insurance companies to sell you a Medigap policy, even if you’re under 65. See page 39 for more information.

Posted on Wednesday, Mar. 23rd 2011 6:57 AM | by Share of Cost | in Share of Cost | Comments Off on When is the best time to buy a Medigap policy?