The windows that protect you
| Window | Who | When | What you can buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medigap open enrollment | Everyone 65 or older | 6 months from the first month you are 65 and in Part B | Any policy a company sells in North Carolina |
| Under-65 disability window (G.S. 58-54-45) | People on Medicare because of a disability | 6 months from the first month you enroll in Part B | At least Plan A; Plan D or G if the company sells them to people 65+ |
| Guaranteed issue (federal) | People losing certain coverage | 60 days before to 63 days after coverage ends | Plan A, B, D or G (C or F if eligible before 2020); any policy in a trial-right case |
| Any other time | Anyone with Parts A and B | Any time | Whatever a company will sell you after health questions |
Open enrollment at 65
Federal law gives you one 6-month Medigap open enrollment period. During it, a company can't refuse to sell you any policy it offers or charge you more because of your health. If you delay Part B because you are still working with employer coverage, the window waits until you sign up for Part B. North Carolina has no birthday rule, so this is the best time to choose. See turning 65 in North Carolina.
Guaranteed-issue situations
- Your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare, stops serving your area, or you move out of its service area, and you return to Original Medicare.
- Employer, union or retiree coverage that pays after Medicare ends.
- You joined Medicare Advantage when first eligible at 65, or for the first time after dropping Medigap, and leave within a year (trial right).
- Your Medigap company goes bankrupt or misleads you.
North Carolina adds one for people under 65 with a disability: if their managed care plan is canceled, not renewed or left, they can buy Plan A, D or G from any company within 63 days (G.S. 58-54-45(b)).
Some Medicare Advantage plans are ending in North Carolina for 2027, and at least 30,654 North Carolinians must choose new coverage. A non-renewal letter usually means a guaranteed-issue right. See plans ending in 2027.
To compare Medigap policies from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent. More in our guide to Medigap in North Carolina.
Related questions
Does North Carolina have a Medigap birthday rule?
No, and why it matters.
Can I get Medigap under 65 in North Carolina?
The disability window in state law.
Can I get Medigap with pre-existing conditions?
Waiting periods and when they apply.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — When can I buy a Medigap policy?
- Medicare.gov — Get ready to buy (Medigap open enrollment)
- N.C. General Assembly — G.S. 58-54-45, By reason of disability
- CMS — Choosing a Medigap Policy (guaranteed issue rights)
More questions in this guide
- Are Medigap rates based on age in North Carolina?
- Can I get Medigap under 65 in North Carolina?
- Can I get a Medicare Supplement with pre-existing conditions in North Carolina?
- Can I switch Medigap plans in North Carolina?
- Does North Carolina have a Medigap birthday rule?
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N in North Carolina
- What happens to my Medigap if I move out of North Carolina?
Part of the guide: Medigap (Medicare Supplement) in North Carolina · All questions
Frequently asked questions
What if I miss my Medigap open enrollment?
You can still apply, but the company can use medical underwriting: it may deny you, charge you more or offer fewer choices, unless you have a guaranteed-issue right.
Can I buy Medigap during Medicare Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7?
That period is for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. It gives no Medigap right by itself. If you leave Medicare Advantage then, a Medigap company can ask health questions unless you also have a guaranteed-issue right.
My Medicare Advantage plan is ending in 2027. When do I apply?
You can apply as early as 60 days before your plan coverage ends and no later than 63 days after. Keep your plan's non-renewal letter as proof.
Medicare in your North Carolina county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Wake · Mecklenburg · Guilford · Forsyth · Durham · Cumberland · Buncombe · Union · Johnston · Cabarrus · New Hanover · Gaston · Onslow · Iredell · Alamance · Pitt · Davidson · Brunswick · Catawba · Rowan · All 100 counties →
