Medicare enrollees in 2026 may consider Medigap coverage.

People turning 65 in 2026 who enroll in original Medicare have a six-month Medigap open enrollment window starting the month they enroll in Part B, during which insurers must sell policies without medical underwriting.

If you are turning 65 in 2026 and enrolling in Medicare, signing up is an important administrative step when leaving employer coverage. Medicare carries premiums, deductibles, copays, and does not include a cap on annual out-of-pocket spending. Medigap plans are supplemental policies that work with original Medicare to help cover many Medicare cost-sharing amounts. Medigap is not compatible with Medicare Advantage and has a specific initial enrollment window tied to Part B enrollment. Key details: - Initial Medicare enrollment spans seven months, from three months before the month you turn 65 through three months after. - Medigap's initial enrollment window lasts six months and begins the first day of the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B. - During that six-month Medigap window, insurers must sell policies without medical underwriting at their best available rates. - Medigap can help cover inpatient deductibles, daily coinsurance for extended hospital or skilled nursing stays, and coinsurance for Part B services. - Medigap does not cover services Medicare does not cover, such as routine dental cleanings or eye exams, and it is not used with Medicare Advantage. Summary: Because Medicare leaves beneficiaries responsible for various cost-sharing amounts and has no annual out-of-pocket cap, supplemental Medigap coverage can reduce exposure to high medical bills. The next procedural step described is enrollment in Part B, which triggers the six-month Medigap open enrollment window that begins the first day of the month a beneficiary turns 65 and is enrolled in Part B.