Indiana • Medicare supplement guide • Reviewed November 8, 2026
Indiana’s Medigap Birthday Rule: Who Can Switch and When
Indiana’s birthday rule is already in effect in 2026. It helps eligible existing Medigap policyholders compare insurers for the same lettered coverage.
The quick answer
If you are at least 65 and already insured under Medigap, Indiana’s rule can protect a move to the same lettered plan with a different insurer. The amended application window begins one calendar month before your birthday and ends one calendar month after it.
This is not a new rule waiting for 2027. The original law took effect January 1, 2026. HEA 1260, Section 27, amended it in 2026, with the amendments applying to policies or certificates delivered, issued, or renewed on or after March 15, 2026.
Who qualifies—and what the rule allows
| Question | Indiana birthday-rule requirement |
|---|---|
| How old must I be? | At least 65. |
| What coverage must I already have? | A Medicare supplement policy or certificate. |
| Can I change companies? | Yes, to a different insurer offering the qualifying coverage. |
| Can I change plan letters? | The protection is for the same lettered plan, including variations described in the law. It does not guarantee a move from G to N or F to G. |
| Can my health be used against me? | For a qualifying application, the insurer cannot deny, condition coverage, or discriminate in pricing because of health, claims, treatment, or medical condition. |
| Does my county determine the right? | This is an Indiana state protection. It is not limited to a selected group of counties. |
Ask the receiving insurer to confirm that your current policy and requested replacement qualify. Show the actual policy, including whether it is a high-deductible or other variation, instead of relying on the letter alone.
Use calendar dates, not a guessed number of days
The amended wording is one month before through one month after your birthday. Do not replace that with a universal “60-day” or “63-day” promise: calendar months differ. For example, a September 15 birthday gives a calendar-month window from August 15 through October 15.
Ask for your exact application dates in writing and begin collecting quotes early. Confirm whether the insurer must receive the application by the last day and what proof of existing coverage it needs. Save the submitted application and receipt.
Indiana SHIP’s July 2026 explanation also describes the one-month-before and one-month-after window. If you are looking at an older article, check whether it reflects the 2026 amendment.
Compare your current premium with available choices
Thompson Medicare Brokerage can help you organize a same-letter comparison and review the application dates. Bring your current policy, premium notice, birthday, and desired start date.
Request a Medicare consultation callback or call (855) 982-6525. The form requests a callback. It does not reserve an appointment or submit an insurance application.
Confirm the new policy’s start date before canceling
The application window and the coverage start date are different. Indiana SHIP’s current HEA 1260 fact sheet says the new policy starts on the first day of the month after you sign the application. For example, an application signed June 15 has a July 1 start date. The amended rule does not add a separate 30-day wait after signing.
Get the effective date in writing from the receiving insurer. Confirm acceptance, the premium, payment arrangements, and when your old policy should end. Keep coverage in place while those details are being settled.
Medicare’s switching guidance also explains the 30-day free-look period. You may need to pay both premiums during an overlap. Ask how that period will work for your replacement before canceling the original policy.
A protected switch does not guarantee a lower price
Medigap premiums vary by insurer. Standardized coverage makes same-letter comparisons useful, but confirm the exact policy version and current quoted rate. Ask about the company’s pricing method, household discounts, automatic-payment discounts, and what happens if you no longer qualify for a discount.
Compare an annual cost, not just the first monthly bill. A $15 monthly difference, for example, equals $180 over twelve months before any other costs. That arithmetic helps put an offer in perspective; it is not a savings prediction.
Keep a simple comparison with the insurer, policy version, quoted premium, discount conditions, application deadline, and confirmed effective date. A clear record is easier to review than a stack of advertisements.
What the birthday rule does not do
It does not guarantee a first Medigap policy for someone currently in Medicare Advantage. It also does not extend this birthday switching protection to people younger than 65. Separate enrollment rights may apply in those situations.
The rule is not the October 15–December 7 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period and does not change your Part D drug coverage. Treat a drug-plan review as its own decision.
If you are outside the birthday window or want a different plan letter, ask about other enrollment protections and any medical underwriting. Federal Medigap rights and Indiana rules need to be evaluated together. Do not cancel existing coverage simply because you received a quote.
Available policies and prices must be checked for your Indiana address and the insurers offering coverage. County-based Medicare Advantage availability is a different question from this statewide Medigap switching right.
Questions before you decide
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move from Plan G to Plan N using this rule?
The birthday rule does not guarantee a change of plan letter. Ask about other rights or underwriting before applying for a different letter.
Does the rule guarantee a cheaper premium?
No. It provides a qualifying enrollment protection. Compare the actual premium and discount terms offered to you; savings are not assured.
Can I use this rule to leave Medicare Advantage for Medigap?
Not as a guaranteed first Medigap enrollment. The birthday protection requires existing Medigap coverage. Your other rights need a separate review.
Is requesting a callback the same as applying?
No. It starts a conversation with Thompson Medicare Brokerage. You still need to review your options and complete any insurance application separately.
Primary references
Official Sources
- Indiana General Assembly: HEA 1260 (2026), Section 27
- Indiana SHIP: current HEA 1260 fact sheet and effective-date example (Word document)
- Indiana SHIP: July 2026 birthday-rule explanation
- Indiana SHIP: Current consumer resources
- Medicare: Switching Medigap policies
- Medicare: Medigap costs
- Medicare: When you can buy Medigap
Sources checked November 8, 2026. Confirm your exact plan, provider, location and effective date before acting. Network participation, plan terms and enrollment rules can change.
Independent Medicare guidance
Review your Indiana birthday window
Bring your current Medigap letter and premium so I can discuss the next steps. Request a callback or call (855) 982-6525. A request is not a booked appointment.
No-cost, no-obligation help is available by phone or video. I review the plans I represent in your area.
Use the callback form to request contact. Keep Medicare numbers, medication lists and medical details out of the general message; I can arrange an appropriate way to review them.
Thompson Medicare Brokerage is an independent, non-government insurance agency. This educational guide is not issued or endorsed by the hospitals, agencies or insurers discussed and does not imply a partnership. We are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in every area. Contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program for information about all available options. Provider access, benefits, costs and enrollment eligibility depend on the exact plan and circumstances.