Blue Shield’s Underwriting Holiday For Medicare Supplemental G Plans

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan and want to get back into a Supplemental Plan without going through medical underwriting, Blue Shield is having an Underwriting Holiday from now until November 30, 2022. Why is this the perfect time to switch? Since the Underwriting Holiday overlaps with AEP (Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period), you would be able to get a Stand-Alone Part D drug plan to go with your Supplemental plan (since supplemental plans don’t include drug coverage). From October 15 to December 7, you can sign up for a drug plan with an effective date of January 1, 2023.

People change plans for several reasons, but the main reason is to have more choice with their healthcare. Medicare supplemental plans have no networks and no referral restrictions. You just have to go to doctors who accept Medicare. Once you have been in a Medicare Advantage Plan for over a year, you have to fill out an application for a supplemental plan and answer medical questions if you want to move back to Original Medicare and get a medigap plan. You could be turned down for the plan due to pre-existing medical conditions. During an underwriting holiday, you wouldn’t have to answer health-related questions, and you would be guaranteed issue.

The plans being offered during the Underwriting Holiday are the popular G plans (comparable to the F plan which is no longer available to those eligible for Medicare after January 2020). The G plan covers Medicare Part A coinsurance and the Part A deductible, the Part B coinsurance (but not the Part B deductible), Part B excess charges, and foreign travel emergency coverage (up to plan limits). Plan G Extra and Inspire have added benefits like hearing and vision.