Guaranteed Issue (GI) is one of the most powerful — and most overlooked — protections in Medicare. It allows you to purchase a Medigap policy without answering any health questions, regardless of your medical history. For Florida seniors facing plan cancellations in 2026, understanding your GI rights could save you thousands of dollars and protect your access to care.

What Guaranteed Issue Means in Plain English

Normally, Medigap insurers can ask about your health history and deny coverage or charge higher premiums based on pre-existing conditions. Guaranteed Issue removes that right entirely. During a GI period, the insurer must accept your application, cannot charge you more than a healthy applicant of the same age, and cannot impose waiting periods for pre-existing conditions.

All 8 Federal Guaranteed Issue Trigger Events

  1. Your Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued or leaves your service area
  2. You are in your first 6 months of Medicare Part B enrollment (your initial open enrollment)
  3. You lose employer-sponsored health coverage that supplemented Medicare
  4. Your Medigap insurer goes bankrupt or becomes insolvent
  5. You move out of your Medicare Advantage plan's service area
  6. You enrolled in Medicare Advantage at 65 and want to switch back within 12 months (trial right)
  7. Your Medicare SELECT plan's hospital closes or leaves the network
  8. You lose coverage through no fault of your own (e.g., employer stops offering retiree coverage)

The Non-Renewal Trigger — Most Relevant for 2026

If your Humana or UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan is being discontinued for 2027, you are currently in a Guaranteed Issue period. This is trigger event #1 above. You can purchase any Medigap plan available in Florida — Plan G, Plan N, or others — without any health questions.

This window is time-limited. You must apply for Medigap within 63 days of your old coverage ending. If you miss this window, you return to standard underwriting, where insurers can decline you or charge more based on health conditions.

Florida State Protections

Florida provides additional Medigap protections beyond federal minimums. Florida law requires insurers to offer a birthday rule: each year during the 30 days following your birthday, you can switch to a Medigap plan with equal or lesser benefits without underwriting. This is a Florida-specific protection that does not exist in most other states.

What Insurers Can and Cannot Ask During GI

During a Guaranteed Issue period, insurers cannot ask about: pre-existing conditions, current medications, recent hospitalizations, chronic illnesses, or prior insurance denials.

They can ask: your age, your Medicare Part A and Part B effective dates, and whether you are currently enrolled in Medicaid.

Steps to Use Your GI Right

  1. Confirm your trigger event (most commonly: non-renewal notice received)
  2. Choose your Medigap plan — Plan G is the most comprehensive, Plan N offers lower premiums
  3. Compare premiums from multiple insurers — benefits are identical, only price differs
  4. Apply before your 63-day window closes
  5. Coordinate your new Medigap start date with your old plan's end date

Best Plans to Choose During GI Period

Plan G is the most popular choice during GI periods because it provides the most comprehensive coverage. The only out-of-pocket cost is the annual Part B deductible ($257 in 2026). Plan N offers lower premiums with small copays for office and ER visits — a good choice for healthy seniors who want to save on monthly costs.

Call (435) 612-1009 for a free comparison of Medigap premiums in your Florida zip code. A licensed agent will help you use your GI right before the window closes.