State RegulationsIL specificDifficulty 3/5
A policyholder's Medicare supplement issuer has an authorized affiliate company. Effective January 1, 2026, what does the Illinois annual birthday open enrollment rule permit?
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why D is correct
215 ILCS 5/363 established the annual birthday open enrollment period as a right to switch to a policy with equal or lesser benefits from the same issuer, and an amendment effective January 1, 2026 expanded the option to include a policy from an authorized affiliate of that issuer. The policyholder still receives protection from denial, conditioning, or health-based pricing during the 45-day window, under Illinois Department of Insurance oversight.
Why the other options are wrong
- A) Since January 1, 2026 the rule is broader than the identical policy form from the same issuer; an authorized affiliate's equal-or-lesser policy also qualifies.
- B) The birthday window does not open the entire Illinois market; the switch is limited to the same issuer or its authorized affiliate.
- C) The birthday rule is precisely a right to switch policies with equal or lesser benefits, not merely a premium adjustment mechanism.
Memory hook
2026 twist: your birthday window now reaches the issuer's family too.