Blue Shield of California (BSCA) has extended the Medicare Supplement (Medigap) underwriting holiday until December 31, 2023. This means that any Medicare-eligible person living in CA who wants to join Blue Shield Medigap plan G Extra or Inspire can do so even if they currently have a Medigap plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with a different insurance company. Also, anyone who currently only has Original Medicare coverage with no supplemental coverage at all can use this underwriting Holiday promotion. Note: You must have a requested start date of 1/1/2024 to take advantage of this promotion.

Almost every CA resident on Medicare who currently is not with BSCA can join a Blue Shield Medigap Plan G Extra or Plan G Inspire without answering health questions. Get an instant Blue Shield Plan G quote here.

During the Underwriting Holiday almost all applicants are approved!

What is Medigap?

Before we get into the Blue Shield Underwriting Holiday details, let’s make sure we are all on the same page. Medicare Supplement, which is better known as “Medigap”, covers Medicare’s gaps in coverage of deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. You can learn more about Medigap here.

In most states, when you’re 65 or older you have only ONE 6-month Medigap enrollment period with guaranteed issuance, regardless of medical history. When you choose to join or switch plans outside of this guaranteed issuance period, you will usually have to undergo medical underwriting before approval.

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What is Medigap Underwriting?

Medigap underwriting happens when you apply for a Medigap policy outside of a guaranteed issuance period. When an insurance company performs underwriting, they examine your medical history. This medical history is based on your medical records and your answers to personal health questions on the application.

Once underwriting is complete, the insurance provider will do one of the following: 1) offer you coverage at their regular rate, 2) offer you coverage at a higher rate or 3) deny an offer of Medigap coverage.

What is Blue Shield’s Medigap Underwriting holiday?

Blue Shield of California’s Medigap underwriting holiday allows the majority of Medicare-eligible Californians to enroll in Medigap Plan G Extra and Plan G Inspire at the standard rate regardless of their medical history. To be clear, you will not have to answer medical questions or share medical records and you will be approved.

If you are a CA resident, who currently has a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan with another insurance provider, you can switch to Blue Shield’s Medigap with no questions asked! Also, those with no supplemental coverage can use this Underwriting Holiday to enroll with Blue Shield Medigap G Extra or G Inspire for the first time. The fastest way to do so is to apply for Blue Shield Medigap Online Here. You can also call us and apply over the phone at 800-930-7956. Remember that you must have an effective date of 1/1/2024 to use this promotion!

What is Plan G Extra and Plan G Inspire?

Blue Shield Plan G Extra is exactly the same as standard Plan G but includes vision and hearing benefits. Plan G Inspire has vision, hearing, and AAA members included in the plan. You can learn more about Plan G Extra and Plan G Inspire here. In 2023, this promotion is only for Blue Shield Medigap G Extra and Medigap G Inspire. Unfortunately, the Blue Shield Underwriting Holiday does not apply to other Medigap plans such as standard F or standard G this year but that may change in the future. Blue Shield sets the rules each year (if the choose to offer this promotion at all).

Isn’t the Underwriting Holiday the same as the CA B-day Rule?

Nope! The CA Birthday Rule and Blue Shield’s Medigap Underwriting Holiday are different. BSCA’s Underwriting Holiday applies to all Medicare enrollees who do not currently have a Blue Shield Medicare plan to join BSCA Plan G Extra or Plan G Inspire regardless of date of birth.

The California Medigap Birthday Rule ONLY allows current Medigap policyholders to switch from any Medigap plan to another Medigap plan of equal or lesser benefits within 60 days of your birthday. The CA birthday rule will not let you switch to a Medigap plan with richer benefits, without underwriting. Unlike the Underwriting Holiday, The California Birthday Rule does NOT allow people with Medicare Advantage to switch to Medigap plans, without underwriting.

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What can you do during the BSCA Medigap underwriting holiday?

During Blue Shield’s Medigap underwriting promotion, you can do the following:

  • Enroll in Medigap Plan G if you have only Original Medicare
  • Switch from Medicare Advantage to BSCA Medigap G
  • Switch from another insurance provider’s Medigap plan to a BSCA Medigap plan G

Who qualifies for Blue Shield’s Underwriting Holiday?

Almost all of Blue Shield of CA’s applicants will be approved is not an overstatement. Here are the qualifications for the BSCA underwriting holiday:

BSCA Medigap underwriting holiday MANDATORY qualifications:

Must answer “yes” to all four to qualify:

  • Are you 65 or over?
  • Are you enrolled in Medicare?
  • Do you live in California?
  • Is your requested effective date on 1/1/2024?

BSCA Medigap underwriting holiday EXCLUSATORY qualifications:

Only one “yes” is needed to be disqualified:

  • Are you Under 65?
  • Have you not yet enrolled in Medicare?
  • Have you continuously lived in another state?
  • Do you currently have a Blue Shield Medigap plan?
  • Do you currently have a Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plan?

Here is another way to see if you qualify for the Blue Shield Underwriting Holiday

California residents only need one “yes” below to qualify for this Blue Shield promotion:

  • Are you new to Blue Shield’s Medicare plans?
  • Are you new to Medicare?
  • Do you currently have a Medigap plan from a different provider?
  • Do you currently have a Medicare Advantage from a different provider?
  • Do you currently only have Original Medicare?

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When is BSCA’s Medigap Underwriting Holiday Extended?

Blue Shield’s extended underwriting holiday to offer in 2023. This is similar to the BS Underwriting holiday they offered in 2022 but this year it requires that your application be received by December 31, 2023. Remember you can apply in Oct, November, or December but you must only request an effective date on 1/1/2024 to use this promotion.

Next Steps

Get a 10-second anonymous price quote for Blue Shield Plan G and Plan G Extra. If you have more questions about Blue Shield of California’s underwriting holiday extension or if you’re ready to enroll, apply for Blue Shield Medigap here or call one of our team at 800-930-7956.

Remember our licensed insurance agents can NOT charge you a fee for a quote or to enroll you. Remember by law, no provider can offer the same Medigap plan for less than you will find on this website.