# Teach me about Medicare supplement policies **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 19, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751 "2014-10-19T02:59:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/21 "2014-11-20T12:41:15Z")
NAF, thanks for the information in this thread. It seems to revolve around those at or approaching age sixty-five. We need to get my wife on a Medicare Advantage / Medigap plan by next month. She is mid forties and has Medicare A/B do the rules change? She was covered by my employer supplied plan until I was Obamacared out of a job. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/22 "2014-11-20T13:35:56Z")
> [@Fleetwood](#): > > NAF, thanks for the information in this thread. It seems to revolve around those at or approaching age sixty-five. We need to get my wife on a Medicare Advantage / Medigap plan by next month. She is mid forties and has Medicare A/B do the rules change? She was covered by my employer supplied plan until I was Obamacared out of a job. IIRC, anyone newly eligible for Medicare gets the open enrollment period to buy a Medicare Supplement plan. So is she just now starting Medicare or was she covered under both your previous employer and Medicare? ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/23 "2014-11-20T15:06:19Z")
Both. COBRA runs out this month. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/24 "2014-11-20T23:37:21Z")
> [@Fleetwood](#): > > Both. COBRA runs out this month. She has six months from the date of lost coverage/enrollment in part B (she should not have been able to enroll in B if she had the other coverage.) If she is under 65 stay away from MA plans if you can. They are far too high a risk and she will be stuck with that plan until she turns 65. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/25 "2014-11-22T03:13:29Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > She has six months from the date of lost coverage/enrollment in part B (she should not have been able to enroll in B if she had the other coverage.) If she is under 65 stay away from MA plans if you can. They are far too high a risk and she will be stuck with that plan until she turns 65. She can change MA plans during the Annual Enrolment Period (AEP) which runs October 15th tru December 7th of each year. Outside of AEP she can still change plans if she qualifies for a Special Election Period (SEP). ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/26 "2014-11-22T13:44:49Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > She can change MA plans during the Annual Enrolment Period (AEP) which runs October 15th tru December 7th of each year. Outside of AEP she can still change plans if she qualifies for a Special Election Period (SEP). She can. She can always change to a different MA plan. Sorry for the lack of clarity. MA plans frequently have almost no underwriting, but she won’t have the option of going with Medigap. Read my posts above for reasons why that might still be pretty risky. While she might qualify for SEP before she turns 65, that’s going to be fairly unlikely. Not that it can’t happen, but it is unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/27 "2016-01-05T19:46:24Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > If I start using medical services, In my state I can switch to a zero deductible during the annual open enrollment. > > I did this within 6 month of my 65th so no underwriting and chance of refusal. This is VERY important. > [@NAF1138](#): > > Being able to switch between plan f’s is a pretty good deal. You can do it without underwriting? You can’t here in the state where I work. > > I typically counsel my clients to go with plan G, though most end up taking F anyway. My reasoning is that the price difference between plan F and plan G is usually more than the cost of the part b deductible, and will likely continue to be more than the cost of the part b deductible for the foreseeable future. Also rates for plan F typically increase at a faster rate than plan G since it is a more popular plan. Waking up this thread because I just learned something about this from my provider, Premera Blue Cross. I was told that once you are signed up for Medigap, the ability to switch between plans is allowed between plan types (high to low deductible, G to F) and insurance companies is mandated by the federal government. This change can be made at any time and takes effect the next month - with no underwriting or risk of refusal. I have also been told that I can switch from high to low deductible prior to an expensive treatment or surgery and then drop back to high deductible. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/28 "2016-01-06T02:59:32Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Waking up this thread because I just learned something about this from my provider, Premera Blue Cross. > > I was told that once you are signed up for Medigap, the ability to switch between plans is allowed between plan types (high to low deductible, G to F) and insurance companies is mandated by the federal government. This change can be made at any time and takes effect the next month - with no underwriting or risk of refusal. > > I have also been told that I can switch from high to low deductible prior to an expensive treatment or surgery and then drop back to high deductible. Do you live in Michigan? That’s the only state I know of with that rule. I don’t know a ton about the quirks in states outside of PA, but what you posted isn’t true for most of the country. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/29 "2016-01-06T03:09:36Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Do you live in Michigan? That’s the only state I know of with that rule. I don’t know a ton about the quirks in states outside of PA, but what you posted isn’t true for most of the country. Missed the edit window. I don’t mean to imply that Michigan is the only state with that rule, just the only one I know of. It’s not a common rule. But there will be some differences between the state regulations on medigap plans. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/30 "2016-01-06T04:06:06Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Do you live in Michigan? That’s the only state I know of with that rule. I don’t know a ton about the quirks in states outside of PA, but what you posted isn’t true for most of the country. Washington State. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/31 "2016-01-06T04:25:30Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > …[The Medicare insurer had told her they had two weeks to decide.] > > If my neighbor had had a regular Medicare supplement they would have just gone ahead and run the tests without these delays. They do; CMS allows 14 calendar days unless the provider requests that it be expedited due to risk of loss of life or limb (in which case it’s 72 hours). > [@NAF1138](#): > > …Medicare advantage offers lower premiums but less security and usually significantly lower quality coverage. These plans are not standardized so every company’s plans will be different and they can change them on you every year… Also Medicare Advantage plans serve a defined geographic area (typically either an entire state, or only certain counties within a state), and if you report a physical address change the plan has to disenroll effective the last day of the month. I’ve had to tell members who’ve reported address changes on the last day of the month that yes, their insurance really is going to end tomorrow. :smack: It’s not quite as bad as it sounds; they do revert to Original Medicare (but w/o an Rx coverage), but it sucks. With supplemental plans typically you still have to live in the plan’s service area to sign up, but once your in you can keep the same plan and move anywhere within the US. My advice is to choose a supplemental plan over an MA plan; you will be better off in the long run (especially once you’re in an a nursing home). Unless of course you like dealing with stuff navigating provider networks and having random procedures need to be approved in advance by your insurance company. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/32 "2016-01-06T12:08:07Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > … > Also Medicare Advantage plans serve a defined geographic area (typically either an entire state, or only certain counties within a state), and if you report a physical address change the plan has to disenroll effective the last day of the month. I’ve had to tell members who’ve reported address changes on the last day of the month that yes, their insurance really is going to end tomorrow. :smack: It’s not quite as bad as it sounds; they do revert to Original Medicare (but w/o an Rx coverage), but it sucks. With supplemental plans typically you still have to live in the plan’s service area to sign up, but once your in you can keep the same plan and move anywhere within the US. > … 1: If you have an MA plan and are moving, can you switch to a regular supplemental plan w/o underwriing, or are you stuck with an MA plan that covers the new location? What if there _is_ no MA plan for that area? 2: If you sign up for a supplemental plan at price X, then move to another state or county where the pricing is different, do you keep your original pricing? Wondering, because probably when this thread first cropped up, I looked at rates as if I were about to retire. Where my in-laws live (“God’s Waiting Room”, a.k.a. southern Florida) has much higher rates than where we live (a DC suburb). I’ve got roughly zero desire to move to Florida, but if we _do_ want to move somewhere when we’re ready to retire, that might affect the timing of the move and/or where we move to. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/33 "2016-01-06T12:46:53Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > 1: If you have an MA plan and are moving, can you switch to a regular supplemental plan w/o underwriing, or are you stuck with an MA plan that covers the new location? What if there _is_ no MA plan for that area? Typically yes. If you move out of the area that your MA plan covers you are thrown into a guaranteed issue period and have 6 months to get a new plan. You can get any MA plan or a plan F or plan A with no questions asked. > [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > 2: If you sign up for a supplemental plan at price X, then move to another state or county where the pricing is different, do you keep your original pricing? Wondering, because probably when this thread first cropped up, I looked at rates as if I were about to retire. Where my in-laws live (“God’s Waiting Room”, a.k.a. southern Florida) has much higher rates than where we live (a DC suburb). I’ve got roughly zero desire to move to Florida, but if we _do_ want to move somewhere when we’re ready to retire, that might affect the timing of the move and/or where we move to. If you move you can, kinda, keep your traditional supplement. You aren’t really supposed to, but I know people who have stayed with their traditional supplement for 6 or 7 years after moving to a new state. Eventually you will probably want to change due to price increases. Also, Florida is a crazy place to shop for a Med Sup. They have a lot of state specific rules and prices are very much out of step with the rest of the country. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/34 "2016-01-06T12:48:28Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Washington State. Good to know. I don’t sell outside of PA but I try to keep up with the stuff going on in other states. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2016, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751/35 "2016-01-06T13:50:12Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > It does indeed vary by state!! > . Info on an AARP / United Healthcare plan wasn’t available but supposedly there is a plan available (well, I know there is, my in-laws have that). I’m also a licensed agent and I just wanted to chime in that , at least in my area, AARP supplement plans tend to run a little higher rate wise but they are fantastic if I have a client with significant medical issues. For the most part, if the person has not been hospitalized in the last 6 months, is not battling cancer or has a recommended surgery they did not pursue yet, I have a much better chance of getting them in. Last year I was able to get a diabetic approved with no rate increase (he did have minimum complications than is typical but was denied elsewhere) and a very elderly gentleman with the beginning stages of Parkinson’s also approved (though increased rate) so he could go to the neurologist his MA plan wouldn’t allow him. I also got a person approved 6 months after his hospitalization for a stroke, also with no rate increase. It’s not an open door policy at AARP but they do have more liberal underwriting policies than anyone else in my area at least. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-about-medicare-supplement-policies/701751.md?page=1)