Skip to content
REMEDIGAP
Free Course
Get Personalized Help
Phone 888-411-1329
  • Information CenterExpand
    • Our Education Center

      Start your Medicare education with these resources

      Start Here
      Medicare Plans
      Medicare Basics

      The foundations of Medicare education

      Parts of Medicare

      Walkthrough Medicare Parts A, B, C and D

      Enrollment Periods

      Learn when you need to enroll

      Supplement Plans

      Learn about popular plans like Plan N, G & more

      Part D Drug Plans

      Learn about stand alone drug plans

      Advantage Plans

      Also known as Medicare Part C

      Resources
      About Us
      Free Quotes

      Compare Supplement plans in your area

      Free Course

      The #1 Medicare course available for FREE

      Personalized Help

      Get 1-On-1 help from us when you’re ready

      Help Is Here

      Experience our unmatched personalized service

      5-Star Support

      See how we’ve helped thousands of retirees

      Learning Resources

      Our educational resource hub

REMEDIGAP
Home / FAQ / Coverage / Can Medigap Insurance Be Denied?
Coverage FAQ

Can Medigap Insurance Be Denied?

By:Joann Quinn Published onAugust 7, 2014August 7, 2023 Updated onAugust 7, 2023

Can Medigap Insurance Be Denied?

“Can you be denied Medigap coverage?” This is a question frequently asked by Medicare Beneficiaries. You can apply for Medicare Supplement insurance (Medigap) if you have Original Medicare Part A and Part B. Can Medigap insurance be denied? That is going to depend on your specific situation.

In this article we’ll discuss:
  • Can Medigap Insurance Be Denied?
  • can you be denied medigap coverage during open enrollment?
  • Examples:
  • Why was i denied a Medigap policy when i am over 65 yrs. old?
  • 1. Underwriting Questions
  • 2. Your Health

can you be denied medigap coverage during open enrollment?

Medicare Beneficiaries who are in their Initial Open Enrollment Period (the one time only 6 month period when federal law allows you to buy any Medigap policy sold in your state) cannot be declined a Medigap Policy.

If you are out of your Initial Open Enrollment Period, you will have to qualify for a Medigap Plan based upon medical underwriting guidelines — which differ with all insurance companies.  With that said, there are certain situations that allow Medicare Beneficiaries to obtain Medicare Supplement insurance without worry of being declined.

You cannot be declined for Medigap insurance if you have a Guaranteed issue right. In many cases, you have a Guaranteed Issue Right when you have other health insurance coverage that changes, such as, when you lose other health care coverage.

Examples:

I worked with two clients, recently, who had a Guaranteed Issue Right.  

Client #1 was on a Medicare Advantage Plan that went bankrupt.  This meant her plan was leaving Medicare. She had a right to buy a Medigap Plan without worry of being declined.

Client #2 was on a Medicare Advantage Plan and she moved out of the Plan’s Service area.  She had the right to buy a Medigap Plan with peace of mind that she would not be declined.  This was important for Client #2 because she had some health issues and was concerned about medical underwriting.

These are just two examples, but there are more.

See pages 22 and 23 in the Medigap Buyers Guide to see if you qualify for a Guaranteed Issue right.

Why was i denied a Medigap policy when i am over 65 yrs. old?

If you don’t qualify for Guaranteed Issue and you’re no longer in your Initial Open Enrollment Period, you may be wondering if you will be declined for Medigap insurance. The answer depends on a few factors:

1. Underwriting Questions

Can Medigap be denied for pre-existing conditions? Yes, if you don’t qualify for a guaranteed issue or enrollment period. Each insurance company has their own unique set of health questions and underwriting guidelines. This benefits the consumer since each individual’s health is unique.  For example, ABC insurance company may decline coverage if you have rheumatoid arthritis, while XYZ company will offer you a policy.  In addition, some insurance companies look at a 5 year window for stroke while other companies only look back 2 years.  These are just a couple examples of how medical underwriting can vary from one insurance company to the next.

2. Your Health

Being declined for Medigap insurance because of health conditions is unfortunate. The best way to see if you can get a Medigap Policy is by talking to a Medicare Supplement Specialist. We are able to determine if there are companies that meet your unique health situation.

Final thoughts

One final note, you may already have a Medigap Policy in place and you are doing some research. Please don’t be deterred about moving forward and trying to lower your Premium.  I’ve talked to many people who were able to lower their very high premium even though they were wondering, “will I be declined for Medigap insurance?”.

  • Medigap Guaranteed Issue- Can You Qualify?
  • What’s the best Medigap Plan when traveling with an RV?
  • When to sign up for Medicare Benefits
Joann Quinn
Cofounder & Chief Compliance Officer at REMEDIGAP | Website

Joann Quinn is the Chief Compliance Officer and Cofounder of REMEDIGAP. She is a licensed Medicare agent in 47 states. Her main role is to provide essential resources and tools to educate eligible individuals on Medicare. Joann provides helpful Medicare education to thousands of viewers with our popular REMEDIGAP YouTube channel. With expertise in Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D, Joann is a highly knowledgeable and sought after Medicare insurance professional.

  • Joann Quinn
    https://www.remedigap.com/author/joann-quinn/
    Navigating Medicare Enrollment: What Every New Applicant Must Know
  • Joann Quinn
    https://www.remedigap.com/author/joann-quinn/
    Medicare Donut Hole: What is a donut hole in Medicare?
  • Joann Quinn
    https://www.remedigap.com/author/joann-quinn/
    Medicare Supplement High Deductible Plan G: A Comprehensive Guide
  • Joann Quinn
    https://www.remedigap.com/author/joann-quinn/
    Are medical alert systems covered by medicare?

Written by Michael Quinn
Licensed Broker, REMEDIGAP Founder

Fact Checked by Joann Quinn
Chief Compliance Officer

Fact Checked

As a licensed insurance broker, REMEDIGAP upholds the principles of integrity in our editorial standards and ensures transparency in how we receive compensation from our insurance partners.

Talk with a Medicare expert

Schedule a free call by clicking below or call us now at
888-411-1329

Get Personalized Help

FREE Medicare Course

Get our 7 daily Medicare lessons delivered directly to your email inbox.

Sign Up Now

Popular

  • Testimonials
  • Video
  • Blog

About

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Licenses

Get Instant Medicare Supplement Plan Rates Now

Compare Top Plans in Your Area for Free - Act Now!

Compare Plans Today!

Not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information. Not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. While we have done our best to ensure all rates shown are accurate, human error is possible. In the rare event of a pricing mistake, the carrier’s rates will always supersede whatever price appears on our website.

REMEDIGAP.com is privately owned & operated by The Quinn Group, LLC. Licensed name varies by state: The Quinn Group LLC, Quinn Insurance Services, Quinn Premier Insurance Services

© 2025 REMEDIGAP | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy

Fact Checked

This article has been thoroughly reviewed by the author and third-party life insurance experts to ensure it adheres to our quality standards for accurate and honest advice.

Learn more about our editorial standards.

Fact Checked

This article has been thoroughly reviewed by the author and a licensed Medicare insurance expert to ensure our content adheres to the highest quality standards for accuracy and honest advice.

Learn more about our editorial standards
Michael Quinn

Michael Quinn

Licensed Agent, REMEDIGAP Founder

Michael Quinn is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over a decade of experience and has helped over 1000 clients with their Medicare Supplement needs. Michael has been consulted as an expert insurance source for dozens of high-profile websites such as USA Today, Yahoo.com, NerdWallet, Bankrate, ThinkAdvisor, The Epoch Times, and many more.

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
joann quinn medicare

Joann Quinn

Licensed Agent, REMEDIGAP Founder

Joann Quinn is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over a decade of experience and has personally helped thousands of clients with their Medicare Supplement questions and needs. Joann has been consulted as a Medicare expert for high-profile websites and runs a very popular YouTube channel that focuses on understanding the complexities of Medicare.

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Information Center
    • Our Education Center

      Start your Medicare education with these resources

      Start Here
      Medicare Plans
      Medicare Basics

      The foundations of Medicare education

      Parts of Medicare

      Walkthrough Medicare Parts A, B, C and D

      Enrollment Periods

      Learn when you need to enroll

      Supplement Plans

      Learn about popular plans like Plan N, G & more

      Part D Drug Plans

      Learn about stand alone drug plans

      Advantage Plans

      Also known as Medicare Part C

      Resources
      About Us
      Free Quotes

      Compare Supplement plans in your area

      Free Course

      The #1 Medicare course available for FREE

      Personalized Help

      Get 1-On-1 help from us when you’re ready

      Help Is Here

      Experience our unmatched personalized service

      5-Star Support

      See how we’ve helped thousands of retirees

      Learning Resources

      Our educational resource hub

Search