To be eligible for Medicare Supplement Insurance, a consumer must:

To be eligible for Medicare Supplement Insurance, being enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B is essential. Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap, is designed to help cover costs that are not fully paid by Original Medicare, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Since these plans are specifically meant to supplement Medicare, an individual must first be enrolled in both Parts A and B of Medicare to qualify for a Medigap policy. Without this enrollment, there would be no original Medicare coverage for the supplement to enhance.

In contrast, simply being 60 years or older does not automatically grant eligibility, as individuals under 65 may qualify under certain circumstances if they have disabilities. Similarly, having a prior uninsured health condition is not a prerequisite for obtaining Medigap coverage. Also, living outside the state where one is applying would generally violate the plan's guidelines since Medigap policies can vary by state and residency is a factor in determining eligibility and plan availability.