Birthday Rule States
California Medicare Birthday Rule
California Birthday Rule gives you a 90-day annual guaranteed issue period starting the 30-days before your birthday and 60-days after to change your Medicare Supplement plan without medical underwriting. You can switch to any Medigap plan with equal or lesser benefits from any insurance carrier, the rule has no age limit.
Idaho Medicare Birthday Rule
Idaho Medicare Birthday Rule gives you an annual 63-day period starting on your birthday to change your Medicare Supplement plan without medical underwriting. You can switch to a plan with the same or lesser benefits from any carrier in Idaho, this rule has no age limit.
Illinois Medicare Birthday Rule
Illinois Medicare Birthday Rule gives Medigap policyholders ages 65 to 75, a 45-day window starting on their birthday each year to switch to another Medigap plan with equal or lesser benefits from the same insurance company or an affiliate/subsidiary without medical underwriting.
Indiana Birthday Rule
Indiana Birthday Rule, effective January 1, 2026, gives Medigap policyholders a 60-day window starting on their birthday each year to switch to the same plan letter with a different insurance company without medical underwriting.
Kentucky Birthday Rule
Kentucky Birthday Rule permits beneficiaries to switch Medigap plans starting the day after their birthday lasting 60 days. This 2 month-long window provides individuals with an annual opportunity to review and modify their healthcare coverage to better meet their needs.
Louisiana Birthday Rule
Louisiana Birthday Rule gives Medicare Supplement policyholders a 63‑day window beginning on their birthday every year to switch to another Medigap plan with the same insurance company or an affiliated carrier/subsidiary that offers equal or lesser benefits.
Maryland Birthday Rule
Maryland Birthday Rule: Each year in Maryland, Medicare Supplement policyholders get a 30‑day window starting on their birthday to switch to a plan with the current or a different carrier that offers equal or lesser benefits, and does not require medical underwriting.
Nevada Birthday Rule
Nevada’s Birthday Rule gives you a 60-day annual guaranteed issue period starting the first day of your birthday month to change your Medicare Supplement plan without medical underwriting. You can switch to any Medigap plan with same or lesser benefits from any insurance carrier.
Oklahoma Birthday Rule
Oklahoma Birthday Rule gives Medicare Supplement policyholders a 60‑day window beginning on their birthday every year to switch to another Medigap plan with any carriers that offers same or lesser benefits.
Oregon Birthday Rule
Oregon Birthday Rule gives current Medicare Supplement policyholders a 60‑day window each year, starting 30 days before and ending 30 days after their birthday, during which they may switch to any Medigap plan that offers equal or lesser benefits from any licensed insurance carrier.
Utah Birthday Rule
Utah Birthday Rule gives Medicare Supplement policyholders a 60‑day window beginning on their birthday to switch to another Medigap plan with the same insurance carrier that offers equal or lesser benefits and no medical underwriting is required.
Virginia Birthday Rule
Virginia Birthday Rule allows current Medicare Supplement policyholders a 60‑day window starting on their birthday to switch to another Medigap plan with the current or a different insurance carrier, as long as the new plan provides equal or lesser benefits.
Wyoming Birthday Rule
Wyoming Birthday Rule gives Medigap policyholders a 63-day window starting on their birthday each year to switch to the same plan letter with a different insurance carrier without medical underwriting.
This appointment is meant to alleviate any concerns and there is no-cost or obligation to make a change.
Year Round Enrollment States
Connecticut
Year-Round Flexibility: Connecticut’s Medicare year-round enrollment means that beneficiaries are not confined to specific windows for making changes to their plans. This flexibility is particularly advantageous for those who experience life events or changes in healthcare needs outside the AEP.
No Waiting Period: Unlike some states that may have waiting periods or restrictions on plan changes outside of the AEP, Connecticut allows beneficiaries to make immediate changes to their coverage. This means that individuals won’t experience lapses in coverage during the transition period.
New York
Year-Round Flexibility: The New York Year-Round Enrollment Medicare Rule means that beneficiaries are not confined to specific enrollment periods. Unlike the AEP, individuals in New York can make changes to their Medigap plans at any time throughout the year.
No Waiting Period: Beneficiaries can make immediate changes to their coverage without waiting for specific enrollment periods. This ensures that individuals won’t experience lapses in coverage during the transition period.
Vermont
Year-Round Flexibility: Unlike some states that adhere strictly to specific enrollment periods, the Vermont Year-Round Enrollment Medicare Rule allows beneficiaries to make changes to their Medigap plans at any time throughout the year.
No Waiting Period: There is no waiting period for individuals to make changes to their coverage. Beneficiaries can make immediate adjustments to their plans without waiting for specific enrollment periods, ensuring continuous access to healthcare coverage.
Washington
Year-Round Flexibility: The Washington Year-Round Enrollment Medicare Rule sets the state apart by allowing beneficiaries to make changes to their Medigap plan at any time throughout the year.
Anniversary Rule States
Missouri Anniversary Rule
Missouri Anniversary Date Flexibility: Individuals who terminate a Medigap policy within 30 days of the annual policy anniversary date may obtain the same plan with no health questions asked for a period of 63 days after the termination of their existing policy, from any issuer that offers that plan.
No Medical Underwriting: An essential aspect of this rule is that individuals can change plans without undergoing medical underwriting. This means beneficiaries can make adjustments to their coverage without concerns about pre-existing conditions affecting premiums or coverage eligibility.
Same or Lesser Benefit Level: While beneficiaries can switch plans, they are required to choose a plan with an equal or lesser benefit level than their current plan. This ensures that individuals maintain a level of coverage consistent with their healthcare needs. This would include Medigap and SELECT plans. For policies with an effective date of June 10, 2010 or after, individuals with existing Plans E, H, I and J can convert to one of the following Plans: A, B, C, F, K or L.
Conclusion
New states are constantly being added to the birthday, anniversary and year-round enrollment rules. Knowing the details of your specific rules can drastically increase your savings over the life of your policies. It makes shopping based on premium a lot more appealing since you have the option to switch every year anyway. If you wish to be notified when you’re in your enrollment window then be sure to join our mailing list and never miss out on the opportunity to save.