When can I buy Medigap in Texas?

Your Medigap open enrollment period

Your Medigap open enrollment period is six months long and starts the first month you're both 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. You must have both Part A and Part B to buy a Medicare supplement policy. During the six months:

• A company must sell you any Medigap policy it offers in Texas, even if you have health problems.
• It can't charge you more because of your health.
• You can use the right more than once in those six months, TDI says.

This window is different from Medicare's yearly open enrollment period (October 15 to December 7), which is for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. The Medigap window happens once.

When else can I buy without health questions?

Federal law and TDI's guide give you a guaranteed-issue right in situations such as these:

• Your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare or stops serving your area, or you move out of its service area. This applies to Texans whose plans end in 2027; see my Medicare Advantage plan is ending in 2027.
• Trial right: you joined Medicare Advantage when you first got Medicare at 65, or dropped Medigap to try Medicare Advantage for the first time, and you leave within 12 months.
• Your employer or union coverage that pays after Medicare ends. TDI's guide also lists losing COBRA coverage and losing Medicaid because of a change in your finances.
• Your Medigap company goes out of business or misled you.

TDI says the right is good for 63 days from the date your other coverage ends, and you must show proof, usually a letter. People first eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 can buy Plan A, B, D, G (including high-deductible G), K or L; people eligible earlier can buy Plan A, B, C, F (including high-deductible F), K or L.

What Texas law adds

Medigap in Texas is governed by Texas Insurance Code chapter 1652 and TDI's rules in 28 Texas Administrative Code chapter 3, subchapter T. Points to know:

• 30 days to return a policy. You can return a new Medicare supplement policy within 30 days for a refund. TDI suggests certified mail with a return receipt.
• One policy at a time. It's illegal to sell you more than one Medicare supplement policy.
• Under 65. Texas gives people with Medicare because of a disability a six-month window for Plan A, and since September 1, 2025, people under 65 with end-stage renal disease or ALS have broader rights. See can I get Medigap under 65 in Texas.

Get help

Medigap prices for the same plan letter can differ by company. A licensed insurance agent with Benefits Life can compare Medigap policies from the companies they work with, at no cost to you, at (512) 265-6565, TTY 711. See also Medigap in Texas.

Related questions

Sources

• Texas Department of Insurance — Medicare supplement insurance guide
• Medicare.gov — When can I buy Medigap?
• 28 Texas Administrative Code §3.3324 — Medicare supplement open enrollment
• Texas Insurance Code chapter 1652 — Medicare supplement benefit plans

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my Medigap open enrollment period more than once?

Yes, within the six months. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) says you can use your open enrollment rights more than once during the period, for example buying a policy, canceling it and buying a different one. Once the six months end, the window doesn't come back.

Does Texas have a Medigap birthday rule?

No. TDI's Medicare supplement guide describes no yearly or birthday right to switch policies. Outside your open enrollment period and guaranteed-issue situations, a company in Texas can ask about your health and can turn you down or charge more.

What if I'm still working at 65?

Your Medigap open enrollment period starts when you enroll in Part B. If you have coverage from current work and wait to take Part B, your Medigap window waits too. Starting Part B early uses up the window.

Can a Medigap company make me wait for coverage of a health condition?

During open enrollment, a company may make you wait up to six months for coverage of a preexisting condition, meaning one you were treated or advised about in the previous six months, unless you had prior creditable coverage. With a guaranteed-issue right, companies can't impose that waiting period.

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