If your Kentucky Medigap premium just went up, the state's birthday rule lets you move that same plan to a cheaper company once a year. The catch is timing, not your health.
In This Guide
- The Rule in Brief
- How Kentucky's Birthday Rule Works
- Kentucky Medigap Birthday Rule at a Glance
- What the Rule Does Not Let You Do
- A Separate Window for People Under 65
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Kentucky's Birthday Rule Works
Kentucky created this right under KRS 304.14-525, enacted as House Bill 345 in the 2023 legislative session and effective January 1, 2024.
In plain terms: once a year, around your birthday, you get a guaranteed-issue window. During it, you can apply for the exact same Medigap plan you already carry, but with a different insurance company, and that company is not allowed to look at your health. It cannot ask health questions, cannot ask about your height, weight, tobacco use, or prescription drug history, and cannot turn you down or charge you more because of a medical condition.
This matters because Medigap premiums for the same lettered plan can vary a lot between companies, and they tend to creep up over time. Plan G covers the same set of benefits no matter which company sells it, so two Plan G policies are interchangeable on coverage even when their prices are not. The birthday rule is the once-a-year chance to chase a lower price on the coverage you already have, without the medical underwriting that would otherwise apply outside your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period.
The one piece of timing to get right: the 60 days run after your birthday, not before it. If you miss that window, you wait until next year.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Anyone who already holds a Kentucky Medigap policy, regardless of age |
| When the window opens | Within 60 days after your birthday, once a year |
| What you can switch to | The same standardized plan letter you currently hold (for example, Plan G to Plan G) |
| Which insurers | A different insurance company than your current one |
| Underwriting | None: no health questions, no height or weight, no tobacco or prescription history |
| Can the insurer deny you or charge more for health | No |
What the Rule Does Not Let You Do
The birthday rule is a plan-for-plan replacement, and that boundary is strict. You can only move to the same plan letter you already have. If you hold Plan G, you can move to another company's Plan G; you cannot use this window to switch to Plan N, Plan F, or any other letter, and you cannot use it to add or drop benefits.
It also does not apply if you do not yet have a Medigap policy. The birthday rule is a right for current policyholders. If you are new to Medicare, your main guaranteed-issue window is the federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period, the six months that begin when you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. For the difference between Medigap and Medicare Advantage, see our guide to Original Medicare versus Medicare Advantage.
A Separate Window for People Under 65
The same 2024 law did one more thing. It created a new six-month open enrollment period for people under age 65 who are newly eligible for Medicare, with guaranteed issue during that window. Previously, Kentucky offered the six-month Medigap open enrollment only to people who qualified at 65. This is a separate protection from the birthday rule, and it is aimed at people new to Medicare rather than at existing Medigap holders shopping for a better price.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The birthday rule is a plan-for-plan replacement only. You can move to the same standardized plan letter you already hold, such as Plan G to Plan G, but you cannot use this window to change to a different plan letter or to a plan with more or fewer benefits.
You must submit your application within 60 days after your birthday, and the right is available once a year. The 60 days count from your birthday forward, so plan to apply in the weeks right after it rather than ahead of it.
No. The rule is specifically for moving the same plan to a different insurer. Its purpose is to let you take your existing coverage to another company, typically to get a lower premium, without medical underwriting.
No. During the window the insurer cannot perform any medical underwriting. It cannot ask health questions, cannot ask about your height, weight, tobacco use, or prescription drug history, and cannot deny you or charge you more based on your health.
Learn More
- Medicare Plans and Coverage in Kentucky
- How Medigap Works
- Medicare: The National Guide
- Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage
If your Kentucky Medigap premium has risen and you want help timing your birthday window and comparing the same plan across insurers, find personalized Medicare support at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.