Stop Overpaying for Your Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan : The Maryland Birthday Rule Explained

If you’re reviewing your Maryland Medicare Supplement Quotes, and your premium has gone up again this year, you are not alone.

Thanks to the Maryland Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Birthday Rule, many beneficiaries may have more flexibility than they realize. We see rate increases affect seniors across Maryland every single year.

Most folks assume they are stuck. They think rising premiums are just something they have to live with. Many believe that if they have a health condition, no other insurance company will accept them.

The truth is, in many cases, you have options under the Maryland Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Birthday Rule. You just need to know where to look and how the rules work.

What is the Maryland Birthday Rule?

If your wondering, what is the Maryland birthday rule, Every single year, starting on your birthday, Maryland gives Medicare Supplement policyholders a 30-day window to switch their Medigap plan.

• No health questions
• No underwriting
• No worrying about whether the insurance company will accept you

In most other states, switching Medigap companies means going through medical underwriting. That means answering health questions. If you’ve had a heart procedure, been diagnosed with cancer, or you’re taking certain medications, a new company can simply say no!

In Maryland, that is not allowed during your birthday window. You can move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits, and the new insurance company must accept you. There are no medical questions, no rate increases, and no denials. This is called Guaranteed Issue, and it puts the power back in your hands.

How the Maryland Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Birthday Rule Can Save You Money

To better understand how the Maryland medicare supplement birthday rule can save you money, here’s a practical example. Let’s say you have Plan G with one company, and another Maryland carrier offers the exact same Plan G for $30 to $40 less per month. During your birthday window, you can make that switch and keep the exact same coverage — same doctors, same freedom, lower premium.

You can also use your Maryland birthday window to move from Plan G to Plan N. Plan N typically carries significantly lower premiums, and the trade-off is small copays of around $20 at the doctor’s office. For many Maryland seniors on a fixed income, that kind of savings can make a real difference month to month.

Why a Medicare Supplement Plan Still Makes Sense in Maryland

This is why a medicare supplement plan still makes sense in Maryland. Think about why you chose a Medicare Supplement plan in the first place. It was most likely for these reasons:

• You wanted the freedom to choose your doctors
• No network of providers to deal with
• No prior authorizations to see a specialist
• Works with any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare
• No surprise medical expenses

Traditional Medicare leaves you responsible for 20% of your Part B costs, and there is no cap on what that could total.

Without a Medicare Supplement plan in place, one major medical event could quickly turn into a financial disaster.

A Medigap plan lets you budget your healthcare. You pay a set monthly premium, and you don’t have to worry about large, unexpected bills. There are also no networks — you can see any doctor anywhere in Maryland or anywhere in the United States who accepts Medicare. If they take Medicare, they take you. That simplicity is one of the biggest reasons Medicare Supplement plans are so popular among retirees throughout Maryland.

Timing Is Everything

Timing is everything when you have a 30-day Maryland birthday window that begins on your actual birthday. If you miss it, you’re back to answering health questions to switch plans. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead by giving us a call so we can get everything taken care of in advance and make it stress free.

We help Maryland seniors with every step of the process:

• Timing the application correctly so there is no gap in coverage
• Comparing multiple carriers to find the most stable and competitive rates available in Maryland
• Confirming the new plan qualifies as “equal or lesser” under Maryland law

We don’t pressure anyone. We listen, we look at your budget and your goals, and then we recommend what actually makes sense for your situation.

Find Out If You’re Overpaying…At No Cost To You

To find out if your overpaying, we can you determine if your Medigap premium has crept up and you’re not sure whether you’re getting the best rate available in Maryland, let’s run the numbers together.

There’s no obligation and no pressure, just straightforward information so you can make the best decision for yourself.

The Maryland Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Birthday Rule is your annual chance to take control of your Medicare Supplement premium without risking your coverage. Don’t let it pass you by.

Ready to find out if you can save money on your Maryland Medigap plan? Contact us today for a free, no-pressure review of your current coverage. We help Medicare Supplement policyholders across the state of Maryland find better rates every single year.