Smart Coverage. Real Advice. · Podcast episode
Federal law doesn’t require companies to sell Medigap to people under 65 with Medicare in Tennessee. You may have to wait until you turn 65, but check with the Tennessee insurance department for any state rules.
Maybe. Federal law doesn't require insurance companies to sell Medigap policies to people under 65, even with Medicare because of a disability or End-Stage Renal Disease. Some states do require it, so check with the Tennessee state insurance department to see what applies to you.
It is a one-time, six-month window that starts the first month you have Medicare Part B and are 65 or older. During it, you can buy any Medigap policy a company offers, and the company can't turn you down or charge more because of your health history.
Insurance companies can use medical underwriting. They can review your health history and may charge you more, offer fewer options, or deny coverage. Unlike Medicare Advantage and Part D enrollment periods, the Medigap window doesn't come back every year.
Sometimes. Federal rules give you special rights to buy a policy in specific situations, such as losing other supplemental coverage through no fault of your own. Not everyone qualifies, and rules can differ in Tennessee, so check with the state insurance department. A licensed agent at The Jordan Insurance Agency can review this with you by phone or video.
If you have Medicare before age 65 in Tennessee, you may not be able to buy a Medigap policy until you turn 65. Learn what federal and Tennessee rules say, and why timing matters.
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.
Talk through your own situation with a licensed agent at The Jordan Insurance Agency. Plain English, no pressure.
Tanya (AI host): Can I buy Medigap before age sixty-five if I have Medicare in Tennessee? There’s a lot of confusion on this, so let’s clear it up today.
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: Always 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 talk about Medigap and what you need to know if you’re under sixty-five and living in Tennessee.
Tanya (AI host): So, let’s go right to the main question. If someone in Tennessee gets Medicare before age sixty-five, can they buy a Medigap plan?
Billy Jordan: According to the medicare.gov article "Get ready to buy," federal law doesn’t require insurance companies to sell Medigap policies to people under sixty-five, even if they have Medicare due to a disability or End-Stage Renal Disease. That means, in most cases, you might not be able to buy a Medigap policy until you turn sixty-five. Some states do require companies to offer these policies to folks under sixty-five, but you have to check with your State Insurance Department to find out if Tennessee is one of them.
Tanya (AI host): So, it’s not automatic in Tennessee just because you have Medicare early?
Billy Jordan: Right. Just having Medicare before sixty-five doesn’t guarantee you can get Medigap coverage. The federal rule says only people who are sixty-five or older and have Medicare Part B are given that special six-month window where insurance companies have to sell them a Medigap policy, no medical questions asked.
Tanya (AI host): That six-month window, is that the same thing as Open Enrollment for Medigap?
Billy Jordan: Yes, exactly. The Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a one-time window that starts the first month you have Medicare Part B and you’re sixty-five or older. During those six months, you can buy any Medigap policy a company offers, and they can’t turn you down or charge you more because of your health history.
Tanya (AI host): And if you’re under sixty-five, you don’t get that protection?
Billy Jordan: That’s correct. If you get Medicare early, maybe because of a disability, federal law doesn’t say companies have to sell you a policy. There are a few states that do, but according to medicare.gov, you need to check with the Tennessee insurance department to see if Tennessee gives you those rights.
Tanya (AI host): What happens if someone waits until after their Medigap Open Enrollment Period—say, they’re sixty-seven and just now want Medigap?
Billy Jordan: If you wait until after your Open Enrollment Period, insurance companies can use medical underwriting. That means they can look at your health history and might charge you more, offer fewer options, or even deny you coverage. The best time to get a Medigap policy is during that six-month window when you turn sixty-five and have Part B.
Tanya (AI host): Can you give me an example of how this plays out for someone in Tennessee?
Billy Jordan: The medicare.gov article says that if you’re under sixty-five and have Medicare, you might not be able to buy a Medigap policy until you turn sixty-five. Whether you can get one before sixty-five depends on state law, so you need to check with the Tennessee insurance department to find out what your options are.
Tanya (AI host): So, if someone tries to get it before sixty-five, they might be told “no,” but at sixty-five, the door opens?
Billy Jordan: Exactly. That’s why it’s important to know the timing. Many people assume if they have Medicare, they can get Medigap anytime, but that’s not always true, especially if they’re under sixty-five.
Tanya (AI host): What’s a common mistake you see people make around this?
Billy Jordan: A big mistake is assuming that Medigap works just like regular Medicare, with open enrollment every year. Medigap’s Open Enrollment is a one-time thing—once it’s gone, it doesn’t come back each year like the Medicare Advantage or Part D enrollment periods. Missing that window can mean higher costs, fewer options, or being denied coverage.
Tanya (AI host): So, you really have to pay attention to that six-month window when you turn sixty-five and have Part B.
Billy Jordan: Absolutely. And if you’re under sixty-five, check with the Tennessee insurance department. Don’t just assume you can get Medigap—know the rules for your state.
Tanya (AI host): Are there any exceptions—like, are there special rights that let people buy Medigap outside that enrollment window?
Billy Jordan: Yes, there are what Medicare calls “guaranteed issue rights.” These are certain situations where, even outside your six-month window, insurance companies have to sell you a Medigap policy. Examples might be if you lose other supplemental coverage through no fault of your own. But these situations are specific, and not everyone qualifies. Again, the rules can be different in Tennessee, so it’s always smart to check with the state insurance department.
Tanya (AI host): If you’re under sixty-five and in Tennessee, and you can’t get Medigap, what do most people do for coverage until they turn sixty-five?
Billy Jordan: Usually, they stay with Original Medicare. Medigap, as far as federal rules go, is mostly an option starting at sixty-five. Some states make exceptions, but you have to check for Tennessee’s rules.
Tanya (AI host): So, to recap: Three things to remember. One, federal law doesn’t require Medigap policies to be sold to people under sixty-five, even if you have Medicare. Two, your one-time, six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts when you turn sixty-five and have Part B. Three, if you’re under sixty-five in Tennessee, check with the state insurance department to see if there are any extra rights or options for you.
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.
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