# Medicare issues **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 13, 2025, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-issues/1025674 "2025-12-13T19:25:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-issues/1025674/1 "2025-12-13T19:25:14Z")
I’ve signed ( or thought I did) hubster up _twice_ for a medigap policy. The first time with aetna I called them back a week later and they said whoever signed me up … didn’t. So after two days of phone tag and chasing my own tail I was put in touch with a _licensed_ insurance agent. I obtained the letter that assured him gauranteed issue, we filled out the application for humana. She left me numbers to call and a different agent to speak to as she would be furloughed after the 7th. I’ve heard nary a word from humana so I called them today with his medicare number, and his enrollment code. Guess what they cannot find an application for him. I’m freaking out it’s after open enrollment. TZinsurance is closed right now and the other insurance agent number _doesn’t ring_ it just disconnects. My contact with the original agent didn’t have the feel of a scam, but I’m sooo pissed that this has to be so difficult. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-issues/1025674/2 "2025-12-13T19:31:53Z")
Contact your desired insurance company directly. Not any kind of agent. The agents might not be scammers, but they’re seasonal businesses that pop up to be middlemen and disappear the day after open enrollment ends. Don’t deal with them. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-issues/1025674/3 "2025-12-13T19:35:06Z")
Oh man. Frustrating. I’m not real sure what Medigap is. But you need to call a person who specializes in sorting out his services he needs. Eldercare insurance advisers are everywhere. There’s an ad on TV now where they compare the different plans for you and get you signed up. I assume there’s a charge for this. Goodluck. (Oh, the enrollment ended recently. Eeeek! Really good luck) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-issues/1025674/4 "2025-12-13T20:20:21Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I’m not real sure what Medigap is. Medicare supplemental coverage. It’s a third-party bolt-on to Original Medicare, which largely covers the “gaps” (co-pays, co-insurance) for Medicare Parts A (hospital) and B (outpatient and doctor visits). It is similar, in some ways, to Medicare Advantage plans, though Advantage plans typically also offer coverage for things which aren’t at all covered by Original Medicare (e.g., vision care, dental, etc.) You buy it from an insurance company (or through an agent), but like Medicare Advantage, it has a limit on when you can sign up; the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for signing up or changing your third-party Medicare coverage for next year ended on December 7th. Because it’s now past the 7th, a lot of the agents and salespeople who work on these things are gone now (it’s seasonal work, as @LSLGuy said). So, if the OP didn’t actually get signed up (because that agent dropped the ball and apparently never submitted or finalized their application with Humana), they may be out of luck for 2026; they need to talk to either an insurance company or a CMS advisor to see what (if anything) their options are, now that the AEP deadline has passed. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-issues/1025674/5 "2025-12-13T20:38:10Z")
I’m really hoping it’s a mistake. He had gauranteed issue. We did everything right. We’ll what was supposed to be right. I should have just gone to [medicare.gov](http://medicare.gov) and signed him up myself.commisdion on aging let me down. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-issues/1025674/6 "2025-12-13T20:50:29Z")
When did hubs turn 65? AIUI, he has guaranteed issue the first 6 months after you turn 65. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-issues/1025674/7 "2025-12-13T23:19:05Z")
He actually qualified many years ago. Long story sorts short we stupidly lost his bcbs medagap several years ago. However, the “advantage” plan he was on was discontinued, so he lost that plan _through no fault of his own_ because of this he was allowed gauranteed issue again. He had to have a copy of the letter informing him of the discontinuation of the plan from his old insurance. I presented that letter and we worked withe agent to fill out the form. She provided us with an enrolment code which the customer service rep at humana claimed she couldn’t find. This sort of thing doesn’t happen too often afaict. We really need this to be rectified. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-issues/1025674/8 "2025-12-13T23:23:33Z")
> [@Sylvanz](#): > > We really need this to be rectified. Wow, yes. Good luck to you. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-issues/1025674/9 "2025-12-13T23:28:25Z")
I sincerely hope you get some relief for this. Just another blunder in the US healthcare system that should fixed. Good god. Fingers crossed, friend. ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Igor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-issues/1025674/10 "2025-12-14T02:39:38Z")
There is a grace period in January where eligible people can sign up for coverage because of “buyer’s remorse,” meaning that they can change coverage because of dissatisfaction with what they signed up for during AEP. Check back with Humana’s customer service and see if you can get hooked up with one of _their_ agents. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2025, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-issues/1025674/11 "2025-12-22T17:25:14Z")
OK, good news. The company I worked with has documentation that he application was submitted 12/01/25 @ 6:30 pm. Apparently, humana’s customer service has no knowledge of applications in process. That is in the hands of the underwriters. The undwriters are saying 14 -21 business days for processing. I’ve been instructed to call a contact number if his account hasn’t been pulled from by Tuesday. Regarding working directly with the insurance companiies: they are ridiculously difficult to get information/help from. Both companies I’ve dealt with directly have ping ponnged me from person to person. No matter what I tell them they want to push him into an “advantage” plan or they are clueless and don’t _listen_ to what I actually say. The only time I got professional, informed, help is when someone transfered me to this insurance broker. It really bothers me that here idiots are who I have to depend on for Healthcare needs.