Medicare before age 65
Use guidance for your disability or health-related eligibility situation. Ask HICAP about California coverage and Medigap questions.
Open official resourceOperated by HealthBenefitsCompass LLC, a subsidiary of HealthcareGPS Inc.Medicare education · Not a government websiteReviewed by Lauri Middleton, RN, MSN (licensed Medicare agent) and Karen OrillaHow we prepare our guidance →Meet our reviewers →
Reviewed for accuracy by Lauri Middleton, RN, MSN, licensed Medicare agentReviewed for clarity by Karen OrillaMeet our reviewers →
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California Medicare Guidance
Medicare before age 65
Use guidance for your disability or health-related eligibility situation. Ask HICAP about California coverage and Medigap questions.
Free Medicare counseling
California HICAP offers free, confidential Medicare counseling. Ask the local program about language and appointment availability.
Open official resourceExternal resource. Some pages are in English; ask for language assistance if needed.
California rulebook
Under 65 in California? You may have Medigap rights other states do not give
Federal law does not guarantee Medigap to people under 65. California requires Medigap insurers to offer coverage to many people who have Medicare because of a disability, with a six-month open enrollment when Part B starts. Premiums for people under 65 can be higher, and a second six-month window usually opens at 65.
Who this is for
California residents under 65 who have Medicare because of a disability.
What changes it
- People whose Medicare is based only on end-stage renal disease are generally excluded.
The question that settles it
“I am under 65 with Medicare because of disability. Which Medigap plans must be offered to me in California, and when does my window run?” — HICAP.
Source: California Department of Insurance — Medicare Supplement Insurance ↗
Medigap fills Original Medicare’s gaps — and has its own six-month window
A Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy is private insurance that pays some of what Original Medicare does not, such as coinsurance and deductibles. Plans are standardized by letter. Your best guaranteed chance to buy one is the six months starting when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B; after that, an insurer can often ask health questions and charge more or refuse.
Who this is for
People choosing Original Medicare.
What changes it
- Medigap cannot be used with a Medicare Advantage plan.
- California adds its own rights; see the California rules.
The question that settles it
“When does my six-month Medigap open enrollment start and end?” — HICAP or the California Department of Insurance.
Get help
Free Medicare counseling
California HICAP offers free, confidential Medicare counseling. Ask the local program about language and appointment availability.
California HICAP1-800-MEDICARE
Call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask for an interpreter. TTY: 1-877-486-2048.
Call Medicare · 1-800-633-4227Official information in other languages ↗External resource. Some pages are in English; ask for language assistance if needed.