2026 Medicare Supplement in New Hampshire

Yes. You must be actively enrolled in both Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) before an insurance company can sell you a Medigap policy. Think of Original Medicare as the foundation of your coverage--as solid as the granite of our White Mountains. You simply cannot layer on a supplemental policy to cover your out-of-pocket deductibles and coinsurance until those core federal pieces are firmly in place.

Yes. New Hampshire strictly observes the standard federal 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This critical, one-time window automatically kicks off on the first day of the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During these six months, private insurance companies must show you true New England hospitality: they are legally required to sell you any Medigap policy they offer, cannot put you through medical underwriting, and cannot charge you higher rates due to past or present health problems.

No. You are not legally required to buy a Medicare Part D plan in New Hampshire. However, skipping it is rarely a wise move. Modern Medigap policies do not cover retail prescription drugs. If you decide to go without a standalone Part D plan (and do not have equivalent creditable coverage from a source like a former employer), Medicare will attach a permanent monthly late-enrollment penalty to your premium when you eventually do sign up down the road.

No. Currently, New Hampshire does not have a Medicare Supplement birthday rule on the books. Once your initial enrollment windows pass, you do not get an automatic annual opportunity around your birthday to switch Medigap policies without health questions. If you want to change your plan or carrier later on to chase a lower premium, you will generally have to go through medical underwriting, meaning private insurers can look at your medical history and deny you coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

For the vast majority of New Hampshire residents, Medicare eligibility officially begins at age 65. Your Initial Enrollment Period is a seven-month window that opens three months before your 65th birthday month, includes the month you blow out the candles, and extends for three months after. However, you can qualify earlier than 65 if you have been receiving Social Security Disability benefits for 24 months, or if you have specific conditions like ALS or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).