In Texas, there are ten Medicare Supplement plans made available for purchase. However, even if you’ve done the research and decided ahead of time which plan works best for you, there are very specific times when you are allowed to buy without going through medical underwriting. The entire state of Texas must follow the same guidelines, so whether you’re in Austin or Tyler, the best time to buy a Medicare Supplement plan is during your initial open enrollment period when you can purchase any policy offered in the state. However, even if you’re not in your open enrollment period you can generally purchase a supplement policy but underwriting could apply. Take a minute to familiarize yourself about your rights and make an informed decision when and if you are ready to buy a Medicare Supplement plan in Texas.
Open Enrollment
For most people, there is a one-time only, six-month period during which you may buy a Medicare Supplement plan. During this period, insurance companies are required to sell you a Medicare Supplement plan –even if you are currently experiencing health problems. However, you must have Medicare Part A & B to buy any Medicare Supplement Plan.
Open enrollment begins on the first day of the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Medicare Part B. However, you may use your open enrollment more than once in the six month period. For instance, if you purchased a Medicare Supplement plan in San Angelo and then decided to cancel it and purchase another, the new insurance company must sell to you. Remember, while they cannot deny you the policy, you still must have Part A & B to purchase a Medicare Supplement plan. Nevertheless, if you choose to wait several years to purchase Medicare Part B, you still have the rights to an open enrollment period and your six month period begins when you enroll in Part B.
Guaranteed Issue Right
There are some times when you may be able to purchase a Texas Medicare Supplement plan outside of your open enrollment period. Basically, there are “Guaranteed Issue Rights”, also called “Medigap Protections” that apply to Medicare Supplement plans A, B, C, F, K, and L. Unlike with an open enrollment period, there are no restrictions with pre-existing conditions.
You’re guaranteed issue right allows you to purchase Medicare Supplement insurance in certain situations. For instance, if you lose your health care coverage, if you have a Medicare Select policy and you move out of the policy’s service area or if your Medigap policy coverage ends through no fault of your own. In most cases, your guaranteed issue right lasts for 63 days from the date your coverage ends or in some cases, from the date you receive notice that your coverage will be ending.
If you Know you are Losing Your Health Care Coverage
If you know that you will be losing your health care coverage, plan accordingly by keeping good records and shopping wisely for new coverage. In other words, save any and all correspondence including letters, emails or claim denials with your name on them. These papers will serve as proof that your insurance is going to be terminated. In addition, keep the postmarked envelopes as proof of the date when you received notice. When looking for new coverage, shop wisely. Compare prices and always stay with dependable insurance companies like United of Omaha or Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.
While the best time to buy Medigap insurance in Texas is during your open enrollment period, there are other situations where you have a guaranteed issue right. Whether you have Medicare Select insurance in Austin and know that you are moving out of your policy’s coverage area, or your Medigap coverage is ending through no fault of your own, Texas insurance companies must sell you Medicare Supplement Insurance. Protect yourself by saving all documentation from your insurance provider and when you are ready to purchase, choose only reputable, dependable companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas or United of Omaha for your Medicare supplement insurance.
For more information on Texas Medicare Eligibility and Enrollment visit our Texas Medicare Supplement website.
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