Can I Buy a Medigap Policy in Tennessee After a Cancer Diagnosis, or Am I Out of Luck?

Learn if you can buy a Medigap policy in Tennessee after a cancer diagnosis, when you can’t be denied, and what happens if you miss your open enrollment window.

In this episode

• When cancer does and does not affect your Medigap eligibility in Tennessee
• Why the six-month Medigap open enrollment window is so important
• What to do if you miss your Medigap open enrollment in Tennessee

Source: Get ready to buy (medicare.gov)

Billy Jordan is a licensed insurance agent (NPN 8699876) with The Jordan Insurance Agency, with an office in Nashville, Tennessee. Voices in this episode are AI-generated, including Billy's, from a script reviewed and approved by Billy Jordan, a licensed insurance agent. General education only, not advice for your specific situation.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Tanya (AI host): I was just diagnosed with cancer, and I live in Tennessee—can I still buy a Medigap policy, or am I out of luck? This is something a lot of folks worry about, so let’s break it down together.

Tanya (AI host): Welcome to Smart Coverage. Real Advice., the insurance podcast from The Jordan Insurance Agency. I'm Tanya, your host, and I'm here with Billy Jordan, a licensed insurance agent and the president of The Jordan Insurance Agency.

Billy Jordan: Glad to be here, Tanya. A quick disclaimer: we're not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency, and this is general education, not advice for your situation. Now, let's get into it.

Tanya (AI host): So Billy, let’s get right to it—if someone in Tennessee is diagnosed with cancer, can they still buy a Medigap policy?

Billy Jordan: That’s a really important question, and the answer depends on timing. According to medicare.gov, you have a six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. That’s a six-month window that starts when you’re both sixty-five or older and you have Medicare Part B. During this window, you can buy any Medigap policy, and the insurance company can’t turn you down or charge you more because of pre-existing conditions like cancer.

Tanya (AI host): So even if you’re in the middle of treatment, they have to let you buy it?

Billy Jordan: Exactly. During that six-month open enrollment, they can’t deny you coverage or charge you more because you have cancer or any other health issue. That’s the federal rule. It’s a one-time window, though, and it doesn’t come around every year.

Tanya (AI host): What happens if someone is already past that open enrollment period—say, they got Part B a couple of years ago and now they’ve been diagnosed?

Billy Jordan: That’s where it gets trickier. If you apply for Medigap after your open enrollment period, insurance companies are allowed to look at your health history. They can use something called medical underwriting, which means they can deny your application or charge you more if you’ve had cancer or another serious condition.

Tanya (AI host): So it’s not a guarantee anymore?

Billy Jordan: Right. After that six-month window, there’s no federal rule saying they have to sell you a policy. You might have fewer options, and the policies you can get may cost more. Some people are surprised by this—they think there’s a yearly window, but with Medigap, it’s a one-time shot.

Tanya (AI host): Is there ever a situation where you can buy Medigap outside of that window, even if you’ve had cancer?

Billy Jordan: There are a few special cases called “guaranteed issue rights.” These are situations where the insurance company has to sell you a Medigap policy, even if you have a health condition. For example, if you lose certain types of other health coverage, you might qualify. But for most people, once that open enrollment window closes, it’s much harder—unless you qualify for one of those special protections.

Tanya (AI host): So, just to be clear, if you’re under sixty-five and you have Medicare because of a disability or end-stage renal disease, can you buy Medigap in Tennessee?

Billy Jordan: That’s a great question. According to medicare.gov, federal law doesn’t require insurance companies to sell Medigap to people under sixty-five. Some states have extra rules, but the article says to check with your State Insurance Department to see what Tennessee allows. So, the answer depends on Tennessee law, and you’d want to get specifics from the state or a licensed agent.

Tanya (AI host): What’s a common mistake people make with this process?

Billy Jordan: The biggest mistake I see is people thinking they can wait until they need more coverage to buy Medigap. They don’t realize that open enrollment is a one-time window, and once it passes, their options can be limited—especially if they develop a health issue like cancer.

Tanya (AI host): So the takeaway is: don’t wait until you get sick to think about Medigap.

Billy Jordan: That’s right.

Tanya (AI host): Three things to remember. One, your six-month Medigap open enrollment period starts when you’re sixty-five and have Medicare Part B. Two, during that time, you can’t be denied or charged more for pre-existing conditions like cancer. Three, after that window closes, it’s much harder to get Medigap if you’ve had major health issues.

Tanya (AI host): For a personalized look at your situation, book a free thirty-minute chat with Billy and his team at thejordaninsuranceagency.com/podcast.

Billy Jordan: I'm Billy Jordan with The Jordan Insurance Agency. Until next time, take care.

Tanya (AI host): Thanks for listening to Smart Coverage. Real Advice. from The Jordan Insurance Agency.