The short answer
Medigap policies are sold by private insurance companies, and federal law gives you only a few guaranteed chances to buy one without answering health questions. Washington adds a state right of its own. RCW 48.66.045 says every company selling Medigap in Washington must issue certain standardized plans "without evidence of insurability" to a resident with Medicare when the new policy replaces another Medigap policy. In plain terms: once you have Medigap in Washington, you can usually change companies or plans at any time of year without medical underwriting.
Which plans you can switch to
The plans a company must offer you depend on when the policy is issued and when you first became eligible for Medicare:
- Eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020: Plans B, D, G, G with high deductible, K, L, M and N.
- Eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020: Plans B, C, D, F, F with high deductible, G, G with high deductible, K, L, M and N.
- Plan A: available without health questions only when it replaces another Plan A.
The right applies to the plans a company sells. A company doesn't have to offer every letter, so check which plans each company sells in Washington. The right covers people who have Medicare because of age, disability or end-stage renal disease.
How pricing works when you switch
Washington requires Medigap rates to be set on a community-rated basis: a company charges the same premium to everyone in a standardized plan, with limited exceptions for spousal discounts and how you pay, and may use a separate rate group for people eligible because of a disability or end-stage renal disease. Your age and health don't change the price, so a later switch isn't penalized for getting older. Premiums still differ from company to company and change over time, so compare current rates before you move.
How to switch without a gap
- Compare the plan letters and the companies that sell them in Washington. The benefits of each letter are the same at every company.
- Apply for the new policy and say on the application that it replaces your current Medigap policy.
- Keep your current policy until the new one is approved and in force, then cancel the old one. Washington's required replacement notice gives you 30 days to decide, without cost, whether to keep a new policy that replaces your old one.
Tip: Medigap policies sold today don't include drug coverage. If you are changing Medigap plans, your Part D plan stays as it is.
Get help
To compare Medigap plans from the companies they work with, you can talk with a licensed insurance agent with Benefits Life at (206) SENIORS (206-736-4677), TTY 711. Questions about a company's conduct or a complaint go to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner at insurance.wa.gov. See also Medigap in Washington.
Related questions
Can I buy Medigap under 65 in Washington?
What Washington law does and doesn't require for people on Medicare because of a disability.
My Medicare Advantage plan is ending in 2027. What now?
Your deadlines and your Medigap guaranteed-issue right.
Do PEBB retirees need Medicare Part B?
What Washington public-employee retirees must do at 65.
Sources
- RCW 48.66.045 — Mandated coverage for replacement policies; rates on a community-rated basis (last amended 2019)
- RCW 48.66.055 — Guaranteed issue periods
- Chapter 284-66 WAC — Medicare supplement insurance (Office of the Insurance Commissioner rules, including the replacement notice)
- Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
- Medicare.gov — Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance)
Frequently asked questions
Is there a once-a-year window for switching Medigap plans in Washington?
No. RCW 48.66.045 doesn't set a window, birthday month or annual period. The right applies whenever a Washington resident applies for a Medigap policy that replaces another Medigap policy.
Can the new company charge me more because of my health?
No. Washington requires Medigap companies to set rates on a community-rated basis, so premiums for a standardized plan are the same for every policyholder of that company, except for allowed discounts such as spousal or payment-method discounts. A company may keep a separate rate group for people on Medicare because of a disability.
Can I switch from Plan A to Plan G without health questions?
Not under RCW 48.66.045. Plan A can be replaced without health questions only by another Plan A. If you have Plan A and want more coverage, the company can ask health questions, unless you have a federal guaranteed-issue right at that time.
Does this right let me leave Medicare Advantage and buy Medigap?
No. The Washington switching right covers replacing one Medigap policy with another. Leaving Medicare Advantage for Medigap without health questions requires a separate guaranteed-issue right, such as your plan leaving your area or a trial right in your first year.
Medicare in your Washington county
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