Illegal Medigap practices

It’s illegal if someone tries to:

1. Pressure you to buy a Medigap policy or lies to get you to switch to a new company or policy.
2. Sell you a second Medigap policy when they know you already have one. They can sell you a policy if you state, in writing, that you plan to cancel your existing policy.
3. Sell you a Medicare Advantage Plan when you say you want to keep Original Medicare and buy a Medigap policy. A Medicare Advantage Plan isn't the same as Original Medicare. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you'll be disenrolled from Original Medicare and can't buy a Medigap policy.
4. Sell you a Medigap policy if they know:
   • You have Medicaid, except in certain situations.  
   • You're in a Medicare Advantage Plan, unless you're switching back to Original Medicare. They can sell you a policy if your plan coverage will end before the Medigap policy's effective date.
5. Claim that a: 
   • Medigap policy is a part of the Medicare program or any other federal program. Medigap is private health insurance.
   • Medicare Advantage Plan is a Medigap policy.
6. Claim to be a Medicare representative if they work for a Medigap insurance company.
7. Sell you a Medigap policy that can't legally be sold in your state. Check with your State Insurance Department to make sure the policy you’re interested in can be sold in your state.
8. Ask you questions about your family history or require you to take a genetic test. 
9. Suggest the Medigap policy has been approved or recommended by the federal government, or misuse the names, letters, or symbols of these:
   • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
   • Social Security Administration (SSA)
   • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Next step: Find a Medigap policy in your area