When you have the right to get a guarantee issue Medicare Supplement, an insurance company has to sell you a policy. They have to cover all pre-existing conditions and they can't charge more because of any health problems that you may have.
How do you qualify for "Guarantee Issue"?
You can get a Medicare supplement with "guarantee issue" if you meet certain criteria:
1. When you join Medicare for the first time. This is called your "Open Enrollment Period". This lasts for six months, starting on the first day of the month that you turned 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B.
2. You are in a Medicare Advantage Plan that leaves your area, or you move out of their service area.
3. You have Medicare and employer group coverage that is ending. The coverage can end for various reasons including, retirement, the company cancelling benefits, etc.
4. You have a Medicare Select Policy, and you move out of their service area.
5. When you turned 65, you joined a Medicare Advantage plan, and decided that you wanted to switch to original Medicare, within your first year.
6. You had a Medicare Supplement Policy and decided to drop it to join a Medicare Select or Medicare Advantage plan for the first time, and then you decided that you didn't like it within a year, you can switch back. The first year in an Advantage Plan or Select Plan is a trial period.
7. You have a Supplement Policy, and your company goes bankrupt.
8. You leave a Medicare Advantage Plan because the Advantage Plan did not follow the rules.
The rules for qualifying for a Guarantee Issue policy can be confusing. The best thing to do is to consult with a professional who specializes in the area.