Is This Wording Open to Interpretation?

[alldaytuesdays]

Is this wording about open enrollment in the 'Choosing a Medigap' booklet ambiguous to you?

"The best time to buy a medigap policy is during your Medigap open enrollment period. This period lasts for 6 months and begins on the first day of the month in which you are both age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B."
- Choosing a Medigap Policy

This might be a stupid question, but doesnt that make the open enrollment period 6+ months. I.e. someone turns 65 mid-August 2008. Their open enrollment starts September 1 (when they are both 65 or older AND enrolled in Medicare Part B) and ends at the end of February. Have you ever had any dealings with this?

 

[Dave020]

Is this wording about open enrollment in the 'Choosing a Medigap' booklet ambiguous to you?

"The best time to buy a medigap policy is during your Medigap open enrollment period. This period lasts for 6 months and begins on the first day of the month in which you are both age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B."
- Choosing a Medigap Policy

This might be a stupid question, but doesnt that make the open enrollment period 6+ months. I.e. someone turns 65 mid-August 2008. Their open enrollment starts September 1 (when they are both 65 or older AND enrolled in Medicare Part B) and ends at the end of February. Have you ever had any dealings with this?

Medicare beneficiaries are eligible on the first of the month of their birth, regardless of what day in that month is their actual birthday.

In your example, August is the first eligibility month. They have 6 months including August to buy GI on a supplement.

 

[sman]

This might be a stupid question, but doesnt that make the open enrollment period 6+ months. I.e. someone turns 65 mid-August 2008. Their open enrollment starts September 1 (when they are both 65 or older AND enrolled in Medicare Part B) and ends at the end of February. Have you ever had any dealings with this?

If someone turns 65 in Mid-August, their Medicare coverage would begin the first day of August (not September). Therefore, their open enrollment begins August 1.

 

[alldaytuesdays]

Yes, I understand. I believe I phrased it the wrong way. I do know the rule the way Medicare intends it. What I meant to say, is just that its ambiguously written.

Also, to answer my own question, it is open to interpretation (what isn't). I had a company issue a policy a couple of months ago on OE basis with app date in 7th month (Feb in my example with mid-Aug b-day). Then, today, had a carrier not do it that way.

 

[Winter_123]

Medicare beneficiaries are eligible on the first of the month of their birth, regardless of what day in that month is their actual birthday.

In your example, August is the first eligibility month. They have 6 months including August to buy GI on a supplement.

"regardless of what day in that month is their actual birthday."

Ahhh, pretty much so but to be technical it does matter if their birthday is the first of the month, in which case it boots back to the beginning of the previous month.

 

[jdeasy]

"regardless of what day in that month is their actual birthday."

Ahhh, pretty much so but to be technical it does matter if their birthday is the first of the month, in which case it boots back to the beginning of the previous month.

You beat me to it. That is the case if the birthday is on the 1st.

 

[Dave020]

Thanks, guys. I meant to be more complete with that but got distracted as it is FRIDAY!