There is a lot of confusion about switching Medicare Supplement plans (AKA Medigap) so we aim to provide the complete details in one place. Whether you want to switch to a different Medigap insurance company or stay with the same company but switch plans (eg. Medigap F to Medigap G), you have come to the right place. We will also go over unique switching rules for your state. You may have heard that switching Medigap is difficult. While this can be true, here is all the information you need to switch Medigap plans.
Note: This article assumes you already have a Medigap plan. Click here if you are trying to switch to Medigap from Medicare Advantage. If you are still weighing your options, check out our Pros and Cons of Medigap article.
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The four main ways to switch Medigap plans
- Switch Medigap at any time by answering medical questions
- Switch Medigap plans if your state has special rules
- Switch Medigap if you qualify for special circumstances
- Switch Medigap if there is a special promotion in your area
💡 Before you switch, read How to Switch Medigap Plans When You’re Healthy (and When You’re Not) and Top 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Switching Medigap Plans.
1. Everyone Can Switch Medigap Plans By Answering Medical Questions.
Whether you want to switch from Medi Supp Plan F to Plan G, work with a different insurance company, or just get a better-priced Medicare Supplement plan, you can do so at any time by submitting a new application. If rising premiums are the reason you want to switch, see Why Are Medigap Premiums Increasing So Much?
In most states, you will have to answer medical questions on the application and could be turned down or charged more for pre-existing conditions. This is called Medical Underwriting and you can learn all about how Medigap Underwriting works here. It is important to note that some insurance companies ask fewer medical questions and have easier standards for approval than others. Learn more in Can I Switch Medigap Plans if I Have Pre-Existing Conditions? If you are approved for a new plan whether you go through Medical Underwriting or not, your new coverage typically starts the first of the month following your application.
Before you send in that Medigap application, see if it’s worth your time. Our Medigap Underwriting Checker Chatbot can help predict your approval odds in advance—saving everyone time and frustration.
Call us at 800-930-7956 and we can help you select the Med Supp plan with the best chance of approval based on your health situation. We have had great success in this arena. We can typically help you apply right over the phone.
2. Some States Allow Medigap Switching Without Medical Questions
These states have laws that will allow you to change Medicare supplement plans without underwriting. Below you will find information on each state’s rules:
- California, Delaware, Indiana, Idaho, Illinois, Nevada, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming have the Medigap Birthday Rule, and New Mexico‘s Birthday Rule starts January 1, 2027. If you are currently enrolled in a Medigap plan, you can switch plans each year around your birthday with no medical questions asked using a state-specific birthday rule. Each state has certain limits on which plans you can switch to, and some states, like Illinois, Louisiana, Utah and West Virginia, limit you to the same insurance company. Learn more about all the Medigap Birthday Rules here.
- Connecticut and New York make changing Medicare supplement plans easy. Both states have guaranteed issuance for all at any time. Learn more about CT’s and NY’s 100% guaranteed issuance here. Compare CT & NY Medigap prices here.
- Missouri has the Medigap Anniversary Rule. Within 30 days of your policy’s anniversary date, you can cancel your plan and then have 63 days to enroll in a Medigap plan with equal benefits from any insurance company (including Medicare SELECT plans), with no health questions asked. Learn more about MO’s Anniversary Rule here. Compare Missouri’s Medigap prices here.
- Massachusetts technically has an annual Medigap open enrollment for Mass switching period from February 1 – March 31, but in practice, all insurance companies are currently accepting switches year-round.
- Maine allows enrollees to switch to an ME Medigap plan that has the same or fewer benefits, at any time of the year. Call 800-930-7956 for assistance.
- Michigan residents can enroll in Humana’s Medigap Plans A, C, or D on a guaranteed-issue basis, with no medical underwriting. Learn more about Michigan Medigap without underwriting.
- Minnesota has new rules, effective August 2026, that give existing Medigap enrollees more switching rights and add a guaranteed-issue window for residents ages 65–70. Learn more about Minnesota Medigap plans.
- Rhode Island now grants guaranteed‑issue rights for Medigap and Medicare Advantage enrollees to apply for any Medicare Supplement plan during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 through December 7), without medical underwriting or health status restrictions.
- Washington State allows enrollees to switch from any Washington Medigap to any other Medigap except Plan A at any time of the year. Compare WA Medigap prices here.
Medigap for Under 65 enrollees has different rules where states can decide whether they can enroll and how much they can be charged.
3. Special Circumstances Can Equal Free Switching
All states have Medigap-guaranteed issuance rules for certain circumstances for example you were misled when you first enrolled in a plan. These situations are fairly rare and are usually called Medigap Special Enrollment or Special Circumstances. This means no Medical Underwriting for those who qualify. Learn more about Medigap Special Enrollment here.
4. Some Companies Have Special Promotions to Enroll in Medigap Without a Health Review
Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL allows you to apply for certain Medigap plans without going through Medical Underwriting. Currently, their Medigap G Plus plan is guaranteed approval, so all Illinois residents who are Medicare eligible will be approved for that Blue Cross Blue Shield Medigap plan.
In past years, Blue Shield of CA offered a special promotion called the Underwriting Holiday that allowed Californians to enroll in their Medigap Plan G without going through underwriting. The Blue Shield of CA Underwriting Holiday is currently not being offered. Learn more about the past Blue Shield CA Underwriting Holiday here, or call us to see if any similar promotions are available in your area.
We have written a very detailed guide on every Medicare Insurance switching option with no health questions.
Can’t I Switch During Medigap Open Enrollment?
In most states, Medigap DOES NOT have an annual Open Enrollment where you can switch plans without answering health questions. A few states like Massachusetts have an annual Medigap open enrollment switching time (and in Massachusetts, insurance companies are currently accepting switches year-round) but most do not!
Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans have an annual election period each year between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7th, where you can seamlessly switch from one plan to another. This is called Medicare’s Annual Election Period (AEP). To add to the confusion, AEP is sometimes referred to as Open Enrollment. AEP is only for Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan switching. Just to be clear, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans do not have an annual switching period in Oct-Dec in most states.
There is also something called “Medigap Open Enrollment” but it is not an annual event. Medigap Open Enrollment is what some in the insurance industry call the one-time Initial Enrollment Period that takes place the first time you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. We prefer to call it “Medigap Initial Enrollment” since it is usually the first time most people enroll in Medigap and it isn’t an annual event.
During this Initial Open Enrollment period, you have 6 months to enroll in any Medigap plan regardless of your health. If you pick a plan during the Medigap Initial Enrollment period and do not like it, you can switch to a second plan – no questions asked – as long as you do so within your first 6 months of eligibility. Click here to see if there is a lower-cost Medigap plan in your area.
Can’t I Just Move from Medigap Plan F to Plan G with the Same Insurance Company?
Many people contact Senior65.com and ask, “Can I switch from plan F to plan G without underwriting?” Switching from F to G, even with the same insurance provider, usually still requires answering health questions on an application before they will approve the switch.
There are a few companies in a few states that are allowing their members to switch from F to G without health review, but most still require Medical Underwriting to switch. Give us a call and we can see if your current plan will let you downgrade from F to G without medical underwriting.
Also, with our Instant Medigap Underwriting Checker, you’ll know where you stand before applying. It’s a major step forward—helping you avoid surprises and keeping things efficient.
Looking to Switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap?
You can switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap, but you have to do it at the right time and it may require Medical Underwriting. If this is you, our Instant Medigap Underwriting Checker is a great first step, helping you determine if you’ll be approved for medical underwriting without the hassle.
👉 Learn how it works in our Senior65 articles Medigap Trial Right: Your 12-Month Window to Switch Back, AEP Medicare Open Enrollment: Switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap, and Medigap After Medicare Advantage Ends: Can I Still Get a Plan?
Some states offer special protections when switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap. For example, Delaware now offers Guaranteed Issue Rights that allow eligible Medicare Advantage members to move to Medigap during certain times of the year without medical underwriting. Learn more about Delaware’s rules here.
Also in California, there’s a rule that allows you to switch to a Medigap plan without answering medical questions if your Medicare Advantage plan raises costs, limits your doctor network, or reduces benefits.
Read more in our article: “Special Rule: If Your Medicare Advantage Plan Changes, You Can Switch to Medigap.”
Check Out our Newest Resource for Switching
The Ultimate Medicare Insurance Switching Guide shows you every Medicare Insurance switching option in every state on one clean chart. You asked for it so we did it! Click the link above for the latest on every way to change your insurance.
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