OPEN ENROLLMENT

Turning 65 Open Enrollment & Late Enrollment into Part B is a 6-month period that starts the first day of the month you're 65 or older and/or 1st month enrolled in Part B. For example, if you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B in June, the best time for you to buy a Medigap policy is from June to November. If you enrolled late into Medicare Part B (because you were covered by credible coverage when you turned 65), then it starts on the 1st day of the month that your Medicare Part B starts.

After this enrollment period, your option to buy a Medigap policy may be limited and it may cost more. Some states have additional open enrollment periods but Texas is not one of them.

Medicare Disability Open Enrollment starts on the first day your Medicare Part B starts and last six month's including the month that Part B starts (usually once you receive 24 month's of Social Security Disability payments).  Federal law doesn't require insurance companies to sell Medigap policies to people under 65 but like Texas, many states do. 

If you're under 65, you might not be able to buy the Medigap policy you want until you turn 65 (You will get a Special Open Enrollment Period that will start on the first day of the month that you turn 65 which will allow you to choose any Medigap Plan you want). However, Texas requires Medigap insurance companies to sell you a Medigap policy (only Plan A), even if you're under 65. The cost of a Medigap Plan A in Texas for someone under 65 on disability will run $400 or more so most people that get Medicare on disability choose Medicare Part C, Medicare Advantage Plans (at least until they get their turning 65 open enrollment).

Medicare Advantage Plans are not all equal and work very different than Traditional Medicare so we highly recommend that you call us and allow us to help you pick a plan that will work with your health care needs.