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Medigap

Switching Medigap plans later: birthday rules and other state rights

When you can change Medigap plans without health questions, the federal rights everyone has, and the states with yearly birthday windows or year-round switching.

Checked against official sources on October 27, 2026 · How we check facts

In most states, once your first 6-month Medigap window has passed, an insurer can ask health questions before selling you a different Medigap policy, and can say no or charge more. A growing number of states give you a yearly chance to switch anyway, and federal law protects you in certain situations.

Rights you have in every state

Federal "guaranteed issue" rights let you buy certain Medigap plans without health questions in specific situations, for example if your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or you move out of its service area, if you try Medicare Advantage for the first time and return to Original Medicare within 12 months, or if your Medigap company goes bankrupt or misleads you. You usually must apply within 63 days after the other coverage ends.

When you do switch, you get 30 days to decide whether to keep the new policy (a "free look"). Pay both premiums for that month, then cancel the old one.

States with yearly or year-round switching

These states let people who already have Medigap switch without health questions during a window each year (often around their birthday) or at any time. Rules differ on which plans and companies you can switch to.

StateYour switching right
California60 days or more starting on your birthday. Any company; a plan with equal or lesser benefits.
DelawareStarts 30 days before your birthday and lasts at least 30 days after (from 2026). Same or lesser benefits.
Idaho63 days from your birthday. Same or lower benefits; you can change companies.
Illinois45 days from your birthday, ages 65 to 75. Same or lower benefits, with your current company or an affiliate.
IndianaYearly birthday window (from 2026). The same plan letter from any company.
Kentucky60 days from your birthday. The same plan letter from a different company.
Louisiana63 days from your birthday. Equal or lesser benefits, with your current company or an affiliate.
MaineAny time, to equal or lesser benefits, if you've had no gap in coverage over 90 days.
Maryland30 days from your birthday. Equal or lesser benefits.
MassachusettsYear-round open enrollment.
MissouriA yearly window tied to your policy's anniversary date.
Nevada60 days from the first day of your birth month. Same or lower benefits; you can change companies.
New MexicoStarting January 1, 2027: at least 60 days from your birthday month. Equal or lesser value; you can change companies.
New YorkYear-round open enrollment.
Oklahoma60 days from your birthday. Equal or lesser benefits, if you've had no gap in coverage over 90 days.
Oregon30 days before to 30 days after your birthday. Same or lower benefits; you can change companies.
Rhode IslandDuring Open Enrollment (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7), for coverage starting January 1, if you've had no gap over 90 days. Any plan.
UtahA 60-day yearly window. Equal or lesser benefits, only with your current company.
VirginiaYearly birthday window (from July 2025). The same plan letter from any company.
WashingtonAny time, between Plans B through N (or Plan A to Plan A), without health questions.
West VirginiaFrom June 2026: 60 days starting the first of your birth month, every two years, generally within your current company.
Wyoming63 days from your birthday. Same or lesser benefits.

Source: the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' state chart dated May 11, 2026. States keep changing these rules, so confirm the details with your state insurance department or SHIP before you cancel any coverage.

Before you switch

  • Don't cancel your current policy until the new one is approved.
  • Compare the premium history of the new company, not just this year's price.
  • "Equal or lesser benefits" usually means you can move from Plan G to Plan G or Plan N, but not from Plan N to Plan G.

Common questions

What is the Medigap birthday rule?

A state rule that gives people who already have a Medigap policy a yearly window, usually around their birthday, to switch to another Medigap plan without answering health questions. Each state sets its own window and limits.

Which states have a Medigap birthday rule?

As of the NAIC's May 2026 chart: California, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming, with New Mexico starting in 2027. Missouri has an anniversary rule, and Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Washington have other switching rights.

Can I switch Medigap plans if my state has no birthday rule?

Yes, but the new insurer can usually ask health questions and may decline you or charge more, unless you have a federal guaranteed issue right.

Sources

General information, not advice about a specific plan.