You can sign up for Medicare Supplement plans in Rhode Island if you’re eligible for Original Medicare. For most, this will mean the following:
You’re 65 years of age.
You’re also a U.S. citizen or a legal resident of the United States and have been for a minimum of five years.
However, there are other instances in which you may qualify for Medicare Parts A and B before you turn 65. In these instances, you will also be eligible for Medigap plans in Rhode Island:
If you are disabled and have received two years of Social Security Disability Income payments, you qualify for Medicare Supplement plans in RI.
If you become diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Failure and have undergone four months of dialysis, you will also qualify for Original Medicare.
Finally, if you are diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, you can apply for Medicare benefits immediately.
Remember that Rhode Island Medicare Supplement plans must cover everything Original Medicare will but only works by covering expenses left behind by Part A and B. Therefore, you cannot enroll in a Medigap plan in RI without having Original Medicare benefits in the first place.