Medicare Enrollment Guide Employer group Medicare Advantage plans: the hidden trap that can lock you out of Medigap By Cindy Kowalski, Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor ā¢ Updated for 2026 Some employers offer retiree or late-career health plans that are quietly structured as Medicare Advantage. If you don’t know the difference between that and traditional employer … Read more
Retirement Planning · Medicare Education · Updated May 2026 · 12 min read C Cindy Kowalski Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor · Eligry LLC · NPN 21601670 This article is part of the Retirement Mistakes That Can Cost You Thousands series. When most people first enroll in Medicare, they assume they will always be able to … Read more
Medicare Plan Selection · Updated May 2026 · 10 min read C Cindy Kowalski Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor · Eligry LLC · NPN 21601670 Many people enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan when they first become eligible for Medicare. It makes sense at the time — the monthly premium may be low or even $0, … Read more
Michigan Medicare Guide Michigan Medicare Supplement underwriting rules: no birthday rule, no safety net, and what that means for you By Cindy Kowalski, Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor ā¢ Updated for 2026 ā¢ Part of our state-by-state Medicare Supplement guide Michigan has no birthday rule. No annual Medigap open enrollment. No state-mandated carrier that must accept … Read more
Illinois Medicare Guide Illinois Medicare Supplement underwriting rules: birthday rule, Blue Cross guaranteed issue, and everything in between By Cindy Kowalski, Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor ā¢ Updated for 2026 ā¢ Part of our state-by-state Medicare Supplement guide Illinois gives Medigap enrollees more flexibility than most states ā but less than you might think. The Illinois … Read more
Georgia Medicare Guide Georgia Medicare Supplement underwriting rules: what happens after your enrollment window closes By Cindy Kowalski, Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor ā¢ Updated for 2026 ā¢ Part of our state-by-state Medicare Supplement guide Georgia does not have a birthday rule. Georgia does not have an annual Medigap open enrollment period. Once your initial six-month … Read more
Connecticut Medicare Guide Connecticut Medicare Supplement underwriting rules: year-round open enrollment and what it means for you By Cindy Kowalski, Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor ā¢ Updated for 2026 ā¢ Part of our state-by-state Medicare Supplement guide If you’re 65 or older and live in Connecticut, you can apply for any Medicare Supplement plan, from any … Read more
New York Medicare Guide New York Medicare Supplement rules: the strongest protections in the country By Cindy Kowalski, Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor ā¢ Updated for 2026 ā¢ Part of our state-by-state Medicare Supplement guide If you have a Medicare Supplement plan in New York, you have stronger consumer protections than 95% of Medicare beneficiaries in … Read more
Indiana Medicare Guide Indiana Medicare Supplement birthday rule: what it means for Hoosiers in 2026 By Cindy Kowalski, Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor ā¢ Updated for 2026 ā¢ Part of our state-by-state Medicare Supplement guide The Indiana Medicare Supplement birthday rule is new as of January 1, 2026 ā and most Hoosiers with a Medigap plan … Read more
Florida Medicare Guide Florida Medicare Supplement birthday rule: what actually applies (and what doesn’t) By Cindy Kowalski, Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor ā¢ Updated for 2026 The Florida Medicare Supplement birthday rule is something people search for constantly ā and the honest answer, which most insurance companies won’t tell you plainly, is that Florida doesn’t have … Read more