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Enrollment & timing

Minnesota Residents Ages 65 to 70 Gain an Annual Window to Buy Medigap Without Health Screening

A state law creating recurring guaranteed-issue periods for Medigap took effect today in Minnesota, adding the state to a short list of jurisdictions that limit medical underwriting for Medicare supplement policies.

By the Goodsurance editorial teamAugust 1, 2026

Federal rules give people entering Medicare a one-time, six-month window to purchase a Medigap supplemental policy without health questions or a premium penalty for pre-existing conditions. Once that window closes, insurers in most states may refuse to sell or charge more based on medical history, a barrier that can keep enrollees in Medicare Advantage even if they would prefer original Medicare with a supplement.

Minnesota changed that starting August 1, 2026. A new state law creates two annual guaranteed-issue opportunities for residents between ages 65 and 70. The first runs October 15 to December 7, coinciding with the annual Medicare open enrollment period. The second runs January 1 to March 31, aligning with the Medicare Advantage open enrollment window. Each opportunity may be used only once per enrollee.

Minnesota now gives residents 65 to 70 a yearly chance to buy Medigap without health questions, but a premium penalty applies and the option can be used only once.

Insurers may add a premium surcharge for policies sold through these windows. The cap starts at 15 percent above the standard community rate in 2026, grows by 5 percentage points each year, and reaches a ceiling of 35 percent in 2030, remaining there for the life of the policy. A study commissioned by Minnesota projected that average statewide Medigap premiums would rise about 6 percent in the first year, while Medigap enrollment would climb roughly 32 percent.

Before this law, only Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York required continuous or near-annual guaranteed-issue protections for beneficiaries 65 and older. A KFF analysis found that about 22.4 million Medicare Advantage enrollees ages 65 and older have no federal protected right to purchase Medigap outside the initial enrollment window.

In plain words

When you first sign up for Medicare at 65, you have six months to buy a Medigap supplement plan without being turned away because of a health problem. After that, most states let insurance companies say no. Minnesota changed this for residents between 65 and 70 years old. Starting August 1, 2026, those residents can try to buy a Medigap plan once a year. One chance comes during fall open enrollment, October 15 to December 7. Another comes from January 1 to March 31. You can use this chance only one time ever. There is a catch: you could pay up to 15 percent more than the regular price, and that extra charge can grow over time. A study found that average Medigap premiums in Minnesota would go up about 6 percent, but 32 percent more people would get covered. Most other states still let insurers say no after the first enrollment window closes.

Understand the basics first

Source: KFF
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