Medicare Supplement

Sherwood at 65? Your Medigap Window Is Only Open Once

In Sherwood, turning 65 sets off a quiet countdown that a lot of people miss. Once you enroll in Medicare Part B, you have exactly six months to buy a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy under the strongest consumer protections the program offers. Miss that window, and the rules change — sometimes in ways that can't be undone.

This one-time period is called the Medigap Open Enrollment Period, and it's the only guaranteed window most people will ever get.

Why this window matters so much

Medigap policies help pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind, like coinsurance and copays. During your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, you have what's called a "guaranteed issue right." That means any Medigap insurer selling policies in Arkansas must sell you one at the same price a healthy person your age would pay. Your medical history simply doesn't come into the decision.

This is a federal protection under CMS Medigap rules. It's built into Medicare because lawmakers knew a first-time buyer shouldn't be turned away for having diabetes, cancer history, or heart trouble.

When the clock starts — and when it ends

The window begins the first month you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. It runs for six full months from that date. It cannot be moved, paused, or restarted for most people.

A few things worth knowing:

• If you delay Part B because you're still working and covered by a large employer plan, your Medigap window doesn't start until Part B does.
• If you sign up for Part B before turning 65 (for example, through disability), rules can differ, and Arkansas has some state-level protections worth asking about.
• Once the six months end, the guaranteed-issue protection ends with it.

What changes after the window closes

After your Medigap Open Enrollment Period ends, insurance companies in most situations are allowed to use medical underwriting. That means they can ask health questions, review your history, and decide whether to offer you a policy — and at what price. They can also deny coverage outright.

There are a handful of limited "guaranteed issue" situations later on, such as losing certain other coverage, but they're narrow. The clean, no-questions-asked window really is a one-time offer.

How Sherwood fits into the picture

Sherwood is in Pulaski County, where residents have access to Original Medicare (Parts A and B), standalone Part D drug plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medigap policies sold by private insurers licensed in Arkansas. Medigap plans are standardized by letter (Plan G, Plan N, and others), so the benefits inside "Plan G" are the same from one company to the next — but the price and customer service can vary.

Remember: Medigap works only with Original Medicare, not with Medicare Advantage. If you choose an Advantage plan, you generally cannot also use a Medigap policy.

Don't confuse this with the Fall enrollment period

Many people hear "Medicare enrollment" and think of the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7, or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31. Those windows apply to Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans. They do not reopen your Medigap guaranteed-issue right. This is one of the most common mix-ups we hear from readers.

For 2026, a few other program-level figures are worth keeping in mind as you plan:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025.
• IRMAA income surcharges start above $109,000 for a single filer.