Short answer: Texas does not have a general annual “birthday rule” that automatically lets every Medicare Supplement policyholder change Medigap insurers without medical underwriting. Some other states have special birthday or anniversary switching protections. Do not assume those laws apply to a Texas policy.
What people mean by a birthday rule
In some states, an eligible Medigap policyholder gets a limited annual opportunity around a birthday to replace a policy under specified conditions without medical underwriting. The allowed plans and time windows are determined by each state’s law. This is not the same thing as the federal one-time Medigap Open Enrollment Period.
The federal six-month protection
Under federal law, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period begins in the first month when you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. It lasts for six months. During that period, companies offering Medigap policies generally cannot deny you coverage or charge you more because of health problems. This period does not start over on each birthday and is separate from Medicare’s October 15–December 7 Annual Open Enrollment Period. See Medicare.gov: Medigap enrollment and shopping.
What if you already have a Medigap policy?
A Texas policyholder can ask other insurers for quotes and apply to switch. But after the protected period, acceptance is not guaranteed just because your plan premium increased or your birthday arrived. You may have a protected right in certain circumstances, such as specific loss-of-coverage situations or trial rights. The rules vary; use Medicare.gov: Changing Medigap policies and Texas Department of Insurance: Medicare supplement guide to check your situation.
A premium increase on your birthday is different
TDI explains that some attained-age Medigap policies may have premium increases associated with the policyholder’s birthday. A birthday-related price change does not, by itself, create a new guaranteed-issue right to move to another company.
Before considering a switch
- Ask whether any guaranteed-issue protection applies to you and which plans it covers.
- Check eligibility and compare the same standardized plan letter at other insurers.
- If health questions are required, answer accurately and wait for formal approval.
- Do not drop an existing Medigap policy until replacement coverage and start dates are clear.
- Use your 30-day free-look rights where applicable and understand the cost of overlapping premiums.
For a full decision checklist, see My Medigap Rate Went Up. Should I Switch?
Primary references: Texas Department of Insurance: Medicare supplement guide; Medicare.gov: Medigap enrollment and shopping; Medicare.gov: Changing Medigap policies. These sources describe Texas and federal protections; do not rely on a birthday-rule article from another state.
Official sources and editorial information
This guide is general education, not a personal recommendation or a promise of eligibility. Insurance protections vary by situation. Confirm the rules that apply to you directly with Medicare or the Texas Department of Insurance.
Research sources checked November 10, 2026. Publisher: Casey Pattison, Texas Insurance License #1215622; NPN #7619490. To report an error, email contact@txpolicy.com. Please do not send private health or insurance information.
