What are "Guaranteed Issue Rights" under Medicare?
- Guaranteed Issue Rights, also called "Medigap Protections," are rights you have in certain situations when insurance companies are required by law to sell or offer you a Medigap policy. In these situations, an insurance company can’t deny you a policy, or place conditions on a policy, such as exclusions for pre-existing conditions, and can’t charge you more for a policy because of past or present health problems.
- Examples of circumstances in which a beneficiary has Guaranteed Issue Rights to purchase a Medigap include:
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- The 6-month Open Enrollment period at age 65 or older that begins on the effective date for Part B
- Your employer-sponsored retiree health plan supplementing Medicare involuntarily terminates
- You move out of the service area of your Medicare Advantage Plan
- Your Medicare Advantage plan terminates coverage in your service area
NOTE: Depending on your circumstances, the duration of your Guaranteed Issue Rights vary. For more information, schedule a one-on-one appointment with HICAP at 1-800-434-0222.
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