Medigap Open Enrollment: 2026 Timing, Rights and Florida Rules

Your one-time federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts the first day of the month you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. It lasts six months. For example, if your Part B begins June 1 when you are 65 or older, the window runs through November 30.

The timing is tied to Part B, not simply to your 65th birthday. If you delay Part B because you or your spouse has qualifying employer coverage, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period generally begins when you later enroll in Part B. The Medicare.gov buying guide explains the federal timing and policy rules.

You need Original Medicare Part A and Part B to buy a Medigap policy. You cannot use Medigap while you are enrolled in Medicare Advantage. If you are choosing between paths, compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage before selecting a plan.

During your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, an insurance company that sells a Medigap policy in your state generally must sell it to you regardless of pre-existing health conditions. It cannot deny you coverage or use your health history to charge you more for the same policy.

This protection does not mean every carrier has the same premium. Medigap policies with the same plan letter have standardized core benefits in most states, but premiums, rating methods, discounts, and customer service can vary. Comparing more than one insurer can therefore still matter. Our 2026 Plan G guide explains how standardized benefits and carrier pricing differ.

The period gives you the strongest broad federal buying protection. It does not promise that any future policy change will be available on the same terms.

Florida Medigap policies are standardized lettered plans, subject to federal and state consumer protections. The Florida Department of Financial Services notes that policies with the same letter provide the same basic benefits, while price and service can differ by insurer. Florida consumers can use the state’s Medicare Supplement Insurance overview for consumer guidance.

One important variation is Medicare Select. A Medicare Select policy can have the same basic benefits as the related standardized plan, but it may require you to use certain providers or facilities for full supplementary benefits, except in emergencies. Its premium can be lower, but network requirements should be reviewed carefully before you apply.

For a Florida-specific explanation of protected events after the initial window, see our Florida Medigap guaranteed-issue rights FAQ.

After your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period closes, an insurer generally does not have to sell you a policy under federal law unless you qualify for a guaranteed-issue right. You can still apply, but the insurer may use medical underwriting and may set eligibility or pricing based on its underwriting rules.

There are exceptions. Certain events, such as losing qualifying coverage, moving out of a Medicare Advantage plan’s service area, a plan leaving Medicare, or some trial-right situations can create a limited guaranteed-issue opportunity. The policy letters available and the deadline can vary with the event. Federal rules often include a deadline before a loss of coverage and no more than 63 days after coverage ends, so do not wait to verify your situation.

Keep letters, notices, emails, and claim denials that document a qualifying event. Medicare’s Medigap timing tool and your State Health Insurance Assistance Program can help you confirm your rights.

You can ask to change Medigap policies later, but federal law usually does not guarantee you can do so without underwriting unless you remain in the original six-month period or have a specific protected right. If you buy a new Medigap policy while still in your initial window, Medicare explains that you can have a 30-day free-look period to decide whether to keep it. You should not cancel the first policy until you decide to keep the new one, and you may have to pay both premiums for one month.

After the initial window, carefully compare the new policy’s benefits, premium structure, and underwriting terms before canceling existing coverage. The official Medicare.gov policy-change guidance covers the federal rules and reminders.

Start by deciding whether Original Medicare plus a supplement or Medicare Advantage better fits your doctors, travel patterns, prescriptions, budget, and comfort with cost sharing. If you choose Medigap, compare plan letters first, then compare carriers offering the same letter. A Plan G and Plan N comparison can help clarify the tradeoff between more complete cost sharing and a potentially lower premium.

Verify whether a policy is Medicare Select, ask how the premium is rated, ask about available discounts and how they can change, and confirm when the policy can take effect. If you need drug coverage with Original Medicare and Medigap, you may also need a separate Part D plan. Review our Plan G vs. Plan N guide and Medicare prescription-drug coverage overview before finalizing your choices.