Your protected times to buy
| Window | When | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Medigap open enrollment | Six months from the first day of the month your Part B starts | Any policy a company sells, with no health questions (OAR 836-052-0138) |
| Second window at 65 | If you got Part B before 65, another six months when you turn 65 | The same protections again |
| Guaranteed-issue events | Generally up to 63 days after other coverage ends | Certain plans with no health questions (OAR 836-052-0142) |
| Birthday window | 30 days before to 30 days after your birthday, every year | Switch to same or lesser benefits if you already have Medigap (OAR 836-052-0143) |
Medigap open enrollment
Under OAR 836-052-0138, during your six months a company can't deny you, add conditions or set your price based on your health. It must offer every policy it sells regardless of age, so Oregonians under 65 get the same choice. If you have at least six months of prior creditable coverage, no pre-existing condition waiting period applies. See can I get Medigap under 65 in Oregon.
Guaranteed-issue events
Oregon's rule follows the federal list. You have a right to buy certain Medigap plans without health questions when, for example:
- Your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or ends, or you move out of its area.
- Employer or union coverage that pays after Medicare ends.
- You joined Medicare Advantage for the first time and leave within 12 months (a trial right).
- Your Medigap company goes bankrupt or ends your policy through no fault of yours.
Apply as early as 60 days before the other coverage ends and no later than 63 days after. If your Medicare Advantage plan ends December 31, 2026, that is through March 4, 2027. See plans ending in 2027.
The birthday window
If you already have Medigap, Oregon lets you move to a policy with the same or lesser benefits every year around your birthday, with any company. See does Oregon have a Medigap birthday rule.
Any other time
You can still apply, but the company can use medical underwriting. A 2025 bill to create a yearly open enrollment window for everyone (SB 1181) did not become law. To compare Medigap policies from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent. More in Medigap in Oregon.
Related questions
Does Oregon have a Medigap birthday rule?
Yes: 30 days before to 30 days after.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap?
When you're protected.
What Medigap plans are sold in Oregon?
The standardized letters.
Sources
- Oregon Administrative Rules — OAR 836-052-0138, open enrollment
- Oregon Administrative Rules — OAR 836-052-0142, guaranteed issue for eligible persons
- Oregon Administrative Rules — OAR 836-052-0143, annual opportunity to select another Medicare supplement policy
- Oregon Legislature — SB 1181 (2025), measure history
- Medicare.gov — When can I buy a Medigap policy?
More questions in this guide
- Can I get a Medicare Supplement under 65 in Oregon?
- Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to a Medicare Supplement in Oregon?
- Does Oregon have a Medigap birthday rule?
- What Medicare Supplement plans are sold in Oregon?
Part of the guide: Medigap in Oregon — what it covers and Oregon's rules · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy Medigap during Medicare open enrollment in the fall?
October 15 to December 7 is for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. It gives no special right to buy Medigap, though you can apply then like any other time.
What if I delayed Part B because I was still working?
Your Medigap open enrollment starts when your Part B starts, so it begins when you sign up for Part B after leaving job-based coverage.
Can a company refuse me outside these windows?
Yes. Outside open enrollment, a guaranteed-issue event or the birthday window, a company can ask health questions, charge more or decline you.
Medicare in your Oregon county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Multnomah · Washington · Clackamas · Lane · Marion · Jackson · Deschutes · Linn · Douglas · Yamhill · Benton · Polk · Josephine · Umatilla · Klamath · Coos · Columbia · Lincoln · Clatsop · Malheur · All 36 counties →
