Skip to main content

MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT ELIGIBILITY & ENROLLMENT

Am I Eligible? When Do I Enroll? Get the Facts.

We have the answers for you here. Learn the rules about eligibility for Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans. Get the facts about enrollment periods. 

Senior woman outside portrait

Eligibility and Enrollment

Medicare Supplement Insurance: Key Facts

Fact: If You’re Eligible for Medicare, You're Eligible for a Medicare Supplement Plan.

Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans complement Original Medicare. If you’re at least 65 years old, you are eligible if you:

  • Are enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B; and
  • Are a resident of Illinois.

If you are under 65 and have a disability, you can apply once you are eligible for Medicare due to your disability.

Plan F, High Deductible Plan F and Plan F Plus are available to anyone who was eligible for Medicare before 2020.

Fact: There’s a six-month Open Enrollment Period —Don’t Miss It!

You can enroll in a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan within six months of your Medicare Part B effective date.

  • This six-month Open Enrollment Period is the best time to enroll because it’s the only time when enrollment is guaranteed.
  • If you enroll in Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan after the Open Enrollment Period, you may have to meet certain requirements and could pay more for the insurance plan.

There are other Medicare enrollment periods that may apply to you.

Fact: You Can Enroll in a Medicare Supplement Insurance Anytime.

You can enroll for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan after your six-month Open Enrollment Period; however, your application may be subject to underwriting and you could pay more for the insurance plan.

Under Illinois Senate Bill 147, if you are age 65 – 75 and have an existing Medicare Supplement Insurance policy through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, you have access to a 45-day annual enrollment period that starts on your birthday. You can apply to any Medicare Supplement Insurance policy with the same issuer that offers equal or lesser benefits to your current policy.

During this 45-day period your application cannot be denied, conditioned, nor discriminated in the pricing of coverage due to health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, or a medical condition. 

Contact Blue Medicare Supplement Insurance Customer Service for more information

For more details, learn about all the Medicare enrollment periods

Find out about your Open Enrollment Period and other information:

Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People With Medicare

Medicare Enrollment

Ready to Enroll?