Florida Medigap Open Enrollment at a Glance
| Florida Medigap Rule | 2026 |
|---|
| Initial Medigap Open Enrollment | 6 months |
| When it generally begins | When you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B |
| Medical underwriting during Open Enrollment | No |
| Does Oct. 15–Dec. 7 apply to Medigap? | No |
| Florida Medigap birthday rule | No general birthday rule |
| Medigap available under 65 in Florida | Yes, subject to Florida-specific rules |
| 2026 Medicare Part B deductible | $283 |
| 2026 High-Deductible Plan G deductible | $2,950 |
The date to know isn't October 15. It's the effective date of your Medicare Part B coverage.
When Is Medigap Open Enrollment in Florida?
For most Floridians, Medigap Open Enrollment begins the first month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. From that point, you have six months to enroll with the protections that come with your initial Open Enrollment Period.
If you continue working past 65 and delay Part B because you have employer coverage, your Medigap window generally doesn't begin just because you turned 65. It can begin later when you enroll in Part B.
This initial six-month window also doesn't repeat each year. Once it ends, you can still apply for a Medicare Supplement plan, but an insurer may be allowed to use medical underwriting unless you have a guaranteed-issue or other protected enrollment right.
Not sure when your six months begin or end? Use the calculator below to find your Medigap Open Enrollment dates.
Find Your Florida Medigap Enrollment Window
Enter when your Medicare Part B coverage starts (or started) to see your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment window and where you stand today.
Why Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period Matters
Your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period gives you protections you may not have later. Most importantly, insurers can't use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept your application or how much to charge you based on your health.
No Medical Underwriting
During this window, a Medigap insurer can't deny you a policy because you have a health condition or charge you a higher premium because of your health.
That can make this an especially important time to compare your options if you have ongoing health problems, have had recent treatment, or simply want to avoid having your medical history affect whether you qualify.
There is one nuance worth knowing: in certain circumstances, a Medigap insurer can impose a waiting period of up to six months before covering costs related to a pre-existing condition. Prior creditable coverage can reduce or eliminate that waiting period, and Original Medicare still covers its share of Medicare-covered services during it.
Source: Medicare.gov and Florida Statute §627.6741.
During vs. After Medigap Open Enrollment
| During Medigap Open Enrollment | After Medigap Open Enrollment |
|---|
| No medical underwriting | Medical underwriting may apply |
| Health can't be used to deny your application | Health may affect whether you're accepted |
| Health can't be used to increase your premium | Health may affect eligibility and, where permitted, pricing |
| Broad opportunity to choose among policies available to you | Changing or buying coverage may require medical qualification |
The practical difference: you can still apply for Medigap after your Open Enrollment Period ends — the protections around your health simply no longer apply automatically.
Medigap Open Enrollment Is Not Medicare Open Enrollment
The similar names cause a lot of confusion, but Medigap Open Enrollment and Medicare Open Enrollment are separate enrollment periods with different rules. Medicare's fall Open Enrollment Period does not create a new opportunity to buy Medigap without medical underwriting.
| Enrollment Period | 2026 Dates | What It's For |
|---|
| Medigap Open Enrollment | Personal 6-month window | Buy a Medigap policy with federal Open Enrollment protections |
| Medicare Open Enrollment (AEP) | Oct. 15–Dec. 7 | Join, leave, or change Medicare Advantage plans and make Part D changes |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | Jan. 1–Mar. 31 | Make certain coverage changes if you're already enrolled in Medicare Advantage |
| General Enrollment Period | Jan. 1–Mar. 31 | Enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Part B if you're eligible and didn't enroll when first eligible |
You don't need to wait until October to buy or apply to switch a Medicare Supplement plan in Florida. Medigap applications can be submitted at other times of the year — the important question is whether you have Open Enrollment or guaranteed-issue protections, or whether medical underwriting can apply.
What If You Missed Your Florida Medigap Open Enrollment Period?
Missing your initial six-month window doesn't automatically mean you can't get Medigap. You can still apply for a Medicare Supplement plan in Florida — the difference is that you may no longer have the same protections you had during Open Enrollment.
What happens next generally depends on whether you can qualify through medical underwriting or have a guaranteed-issue right that lets you enroll without it.
You May Still Qualify Through Medical Underwriting
Outside of a protected enrollment period, many Medigap applications require you to answer health questions. The insurer can use those answers to determine whether you qualify for coverage.
This doesn't mean you'll automatically be declined. Many people can qualify for a new policy after their initial Open Enrollment Period.
But acceptance isn't guaranteed, and underwriting guidelines can differ between insurance companies.
Common Mistake
Canceling a current Medigap policy before confirming acceptance into the replacement coverage. This becomes especially important if you're considering switching Medigap carriers for a lower premium — don't cancel your current policy until you know you've been accepted for the replacement and understand when it will take effect.
You May Have a Guaranteed-Issue Right
Before assuming you'll have to go through underwriting, check whether your situation gives you a guaranteed-issue right. These protections allow you to buy certain Medigap policies without being denied or charged more because of your health.
You may have a guaranteed-issue right in situations such as:
- Losing certain employer or other health coverage
- Your Medicare Advantage plan leaving Medicare or no longer serving your area
- Moving out of your Medicare Advantage plan's service area
- Exercising certain Medicare Advantage trial rights
- Losing coverage because a Medigap insurer goes bankrupt or your coverage ends through no fault of your own
The exact plans you can buy and how long you have to apply depend on the event that created the guaranteed-issue right, so don't assume every qualifying situation gives you the same enrollment window or access to every Medigap plan.
Source: Medicare.gov, guaranteed issue rights.
Florida-Specific Rules You Should Know
Most Medigap rules come from federal law, but Florida has additional protections that can affect when you're able to enroll — especially if you're under 65 or leaving employer coverage.
Medigap Is Available to Floridians Under 65
Florida requires insurers that sell Medicare Supplement policies in the state to make their policies available to people under 65 who qualify for Medicare because of a disability or end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Once you're eligible for Medicare for one of these reasons and enrolled in Part B, Florida gives you a six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. During that window, an insurer can't deny you coverage or charge you more based on your health status.
Premiums are another matter. Florida law allows insurers to rate policies issued to beneficiaries under 65 separately, which means coverage can be considerably more expensive than it is for someone enrolling at 65.
If you first qualified for Medicare before 65, turning 65 gives you another Medigap Open Enrollment opportunity based on being 65 and enrolled in Part B. That's an important time to shop the market again, particularly if you've been paying an under-65 Medigap rate.
Source: Florida Statute §627.6741.
Leaving Employer Coverage After 65
Working past 65 doesn't mean you lose your chance to enroll in Medigap. If you delay Part B while covered through an employer and enroll later, your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period generally begins when your Part B coverage becomes effective.
Florida also provides a separate protection for residents who are already enrolled in Part B: a two-month enrollment period following the termination of coverage under a group health insurance policy, during which insurers must offer Medigap without basing issuance or pricing on health status.
Example: Susan turns 65 but continues working until age 68 and keeps her employer health coverage. When she retires, she enrolls in Part B.
Her Medigap Open Enrollment Period begins with her Part B effective date — not when she originally turned 65.
The timing can get more complicated if you're leaving retiree coverage, COBRA, or another type of insurance, so it's worth confirming your Part B effective date and enrollment rights before ending existing coverage.
Does Florida Have a Medigap Birthday Rule?
No. Florida does not currently have a general Medigap birthday rule that gives existing policyholders a new guaranteed opportunity to switch plans every year around their birthday.
Some states have created annual switching protections like this, but Florida's Medigap protections are based on your initial Open Enrollment Period and specific qualifying circumstances.
That doesn't mean you're locked into the same Medigap policy for life. You can apply to change Medicare Supplement plans or insurers outside your initial enrollment window, but medical underwriting may apply unless you qualify for a guaranteed-issue right.
Reviewed against current Florida Medigap law, September 2026.
What's New for Florida Medigap in 2026?
2026 Florida Medigap enrollment update: Florida's core Medigap Open Enrollment protections remain in place for 2026. We reviewed the current Florida statute in September 2026, including the state's protections for beneficiaries under 65 and people losing group health coverage.
Florida's enrollment rules haven't materially changed for 2026 — the initial window is still generally six months, and Florida continues to provide the additional protections described above. What has changed are a couple of the Medicare cost figures you'll see when comparing coverage.
2026 Medicare Part B Deductible: $283
The annual Medicare Part B deductible increased from $257 in 2025 to $283 in 2026. Neither Plan G nor Plan N covers this deductible — with Plan G, once you've met it, the plan generally picks up the remaining Medicare-approved cost-sharing covered by the policy; Plan N leaves you responsible for the deductible along with its applicable copays.
2026 High-Deductible Plan G Deductible: $2,950
The annual deductible for High-Deductible Plan G increased from $2,870 in 2025 to $2,950 in 2026. If you're comparing plans during Open Enrollment, make sure you're using this current figure rather than an older deductible from a previous year.
Source: Medicare.gov, 2026 Medicare Costs.
Florida's Enrollment Protections Remain in Place
- The six-month Florida under-65 disability/ESRD protection is unchanged
- The two-month qualifying group-coverage protection is unchanged
- Florida still has no general Medigap birthday rule
When Should You Apply for Medigap?
The best time to apply depends on how you're getting your health coverage today. For someone entering Medicare for the first time, the process is usually straightforward.
If you're leaving employer coverage, Medicare Advantage, or another Medigap policy, timing becomes more important.
If You're Turning 65
Once you know when your Medicare Part B coverage will begin, you can start comparing Medigap policies and arrange for your coverage to begin alongside Medicare.
Enroll in Medicare→
Confirm Part B effective date→
Compare Medigap policies→
Apply→
Confirm Medigap effective date
You don't need to wait until Medicare's fall Open Enrollment Period. Your own six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period is what matters.
If You're Working Past 65
If you have qualifying employer coverage and delay Part B, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period generally waits too. Once you enroll in Part B, your one-time six-month Medigap window begins — even if you enroll in Part B while you're still covered by the employer plan.
The key is coordinating the dates. Before retiring, confirm when your employer coverage ends, when Part B begins, and when you want your Medigap policy to take effect so you don't create an unintended gap in coverage.
If You're Already on Medicare Advantage
Moving from Medicare Advantage to Medigap is a two-part decision: you need to be able to leave Medicare Advantage, and you need to know whether you have the right to buy Medigap.
You generally can't have Medicare Advantage and Medigap at the same time. Depending on why and when you're leaving Medicare Advantage, you may have a guaranteed-issue or trial right that lets you buy certain Medigap policies without medical underwriting.
In other situations, getting accepted for Medigap may not be guaranteed.
Medicare Advantage Replacement
Before leaving Medicare Advantage, confirm whether you have a guaranteed-issue or trial right to buy Medigap, whether medical underwriting will apply, and when your new coverage can begin. Being allowed to leave Medicare Advantage does not automatically mean you're guaranteed acceptance into the Medigap policy you want.
If You Already Have Medigap
You don't have to wait until October to apply for a different Medicare Supplement policy. But outside your initial Open Enrollment Period or another protected situation, the new insurer may use medical underwriting and doesn't necessarily have to accept your application.
Applying to switch Medigap policies and having a guaranteed right to switch are two different things.
If you're shopping for a lower premium or a different carrier, keep your existing Medigap coverage in place while you apply. Medicare also provides a 30-day "free look" period when switching Medigap policies; during that period you'll generally pay premiums for both policies while deciding whether to keep the new one.
Source: Medicare.gov, Medigap coverage overview.
Before Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period Ends
Your initial Open Enrollment Period is the time to get the big decisions right. Before the six-month window closes, work through these steps:
- Confirm your Part B effective date. This is the date that generally determines when your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period begins.
- Know when your enrollment window ends. Don't assume Medicare's fall Open Enrollment Period will give you another opportunity without medical underwriting.
- Decide which Medigap plan fits you. Compare the coverage and cost-sharing you're comfortable with rather than choosing based on premium alone.
- Compare the same plan across multiple insurers. Medigap benefits are standardized by plan letter, but insurers can charge different premiums for the same coverage — see our Best Medicare Supplement Companies in Florida guide for a starting point.
- Look beyond the lowest premium today. Consider available discounts, how the policy is priced, and the insurer's rate history when that information is available.
- Arrange prescription drug coverage separately. Medigap policies sold today don't include prescription drug coverage, so you'll generally need a separate Part D plan if you want that coverage.
- Don't cancel existing coverage too early. If you're replacing Medicare Advantage, employer coverage, or another Medigap policy, make sure you understand when the old coverage ends and the new coverage begins.
- Keep your coverage documents. Save notices showing when prior coverage ends and confirmation of when your new coverage begins, particularly if you're relying on a guaranteed-issue right.
You don't necessarily need to have every future Medicare decision figured out. The important part is understanding that getting a Medigap policy later may not come with the same enrollment protections you have today.
Bottom Line
For most Floridians, the Medigap enrollment date that matters isn't October 15 — it's their Part B effective date.
Your initial six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period gives you an opportunity to choose coverage without your health being used to deny your application or increase your premium. Once that window ends, you can still apply for Medigap, but medical underwriting may apply unless you qualify for a guaranteed-issue or other protected enrollment right.
If you're approaching Medicare eligibility, start by confirming your Part B effective date and knowing exactly when your six-month window ends. From there, you can compare your Medigap options while you still have the broadest enrollment protections available to you.
