When are you allowed to change your Medicare supplement plan in Missouri?

For most people, the best time to enroll in a Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) plan is during their open enrollment period. 

Your Medigap open enrollment period (OEP) starts the month in which you sign up for Medicare Part B. It lasts for six months. The Medigap OEP

is the ideal time to get a Medicare supplement insurance plan because the insurance company cannot deny you coverage for pre-existing conditions. 

But what about after the open enrollment period ends?

Unhealthy seniors may have trouble getting a different Medicare supplement plan

If you have a Medicare supplement policy in Missouri or Illinois, you can change it at any time of the year. But there's a catch. Unlike Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans, the Medigap insurance company usually isn't obligated to cover you. They're allowed to look at your health history and turn you away if they don't like what they see.

Good news.

Missouri and Illinois have different rules when it comes to changing Medigap coverage.

Sixteen states have a "birthday rule" that lets Medigap policyholders switch supplement plans around the time of their birthday without needing to answer any health questions. This is called a "guaranteed issue" right, and Illinois is one of the states where it applies.

In Missouri, a Medicare supplement insurance enrollee can change her plan on a guaranteed issue basis around the time of their policy's annual anniversary. If you first bought your policy in March, for example, you can change it every March even with pre-existing conditions. This is called an "anniversary rule".

There's some important fine print you don't want to overlook.

Important differences in Missouri and Illinois

In Illinois, the birthday rule only applies to people ages 65 to 75. Also, they must be switching to a plan with equal or lesser benefits (for example, going from a Plan G to a Plan N) and the new plan must be offered by their current insurance company. You cannot switch insurance carriers.

The Missouri anniversary rule is available to enrollees of all ages, but they must keep the same level of benefits. If you have a Medigap Plan G, for example, you must be switching to another Plan G (not a Plan N or Plan K). Unlike in Illinois, the enrollee is permitted to change insurance companies.

Switching from a Medicare supplement plan to Medicare Advantage

It's simple to replace your Medicare supplement with another form of coverage. Medicare Advantage plans must accept applicants regardless of their health history. This means someone with pre-existing medical conditions will have no trouble getting an Advantage plan during the annual enrollment period (October 15 to December 7).

What if you don't like your new Advantage plan?

If it's your first time in an Advantage plan, you have 12 months to change your mind and return to your previous supplement without answering any health questions, even after the annual enrollment period is finished. This is called the Medicare Advantage Trial Right, and it's available to use only once in your lifetime.

The Medicare Advantage Trial Right is like a "do over" button. You must go back to the same plan you had, from the same insurance company that offered it, and you must pay the same premium you were paying before you dropped it.

You don't have to keep your Medicare supplement

Of course, you're never required to keep your Medigap plan. Ending the coverage is as simple as calling the insurance company and telling them to cancel the policy. Just keep in mind that if you cancel your supplement, you may not be able to get it back later.

If you live in Missouri or Illinois and your Medicare supplement plan is too expensive, or if you're interested in switching to an Advantage plan, Andrew Shea can help. Learn more here.