Your first year with a Medicare Advantage plan comes with an important protection: the Medicare Advantage trial right. This one-time opportunity lets you test a Medicare Advantage plan without losing your ability to return to Original Medicare and secure a Medigap policy. Knowing how this safeguard works can help you make confident decisions about your coverage.

This guide breaks down who qualifies, how the trial period works, and why timing matters when exploring Medicare Advantage for the first time.

What the Medicare Advantage Trial Right Means

The Medicare Advantage trial right is a unique, one-time option available to eligible Medicare beneficiaries. It gives you up to 12 months to try a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. If you find that the plan doesn’t align with your needs during that first year, you can return to Original Medicare and apply for a Medigap policy without undergoing medical underwriting.

One key rule during this period is that you cannot be enrolled in both a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medigap plan at the same time. You must choose one type of coverage during your trial year.

Why This Protection Matters

Outside of the trial right window, switching back to Original Medicare and securing Medigap coverage can be more challenging. That’s because Medigap insurers normally have the right to require medical underwriting. This means they can deny your application or charge higher premiums based on your health history.

The trial right shields you from these restrictions for a limited period. It allows you to explore Medicare Advantage without risking your guaranteed access to Medigap if you decide that the Part C plan isn’t the right fit.

Who Qualifies for the Trial Right

Your eligibility depends on how and when you enroll in Medicare Advantage. There are two primary situations where the trial right applies:

• You enroll in Medicare Advantage when first eligible at age 65: If your first step into Medicare is through a Medicare Advantage plan, you automatically receive a 12-month trial period. At any point during those 12 months, you may return to Original Medicare and purchase any Medigap policy available in your state without medical underwriting.
• You switch from Original Medicare with a Medigap plan to Medicare Advantage for the first time: If you previously had Medigap and choose to try Medicare Advantage, you also receive a 12-month trial. If you decide Medicare Advantage isn’t the right fit, you can return to Original Medicare, enroll in a Part D drug plan, and either reinstate your former Medigap plan (if it’s still offered) or choose another available option in your state—all without medical underwriting.

Timing and Deadlines You Need to Know

While the trial right offers flexibility, it also comes with strict time frames. You’re allowed to disenroll from your Medicare Advantage plan at any point during the 12-month trial. After you disenroll, you enter a special enrollment period (SEP) that lets you apply for a Medigap plan.

This SEP begins up to 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends and extends for 63 days after it ends. Missing this application window may mean losing your guaranteed right to purchase Medigap without underwriting.

Acting within these deadlines is essential if you want to maintain access to Medigap coverage.

How to Make the Most of Your Trial Period

Medicare coverage should support your health and budget—not restrict it. The trial right exists to ensure that your initial Medicare Advantage enrollment doesn’t lock you into a plan that doesn’t meet your expectations. Whether you're turning 65 or exploring Medicare Advantage after previously using Medigap, this safeguard gives you room to adjust if your first choice doesn’t work out.

Use your first year to carefully evaluate the Medicare Advantage plan’s provider networks, out-of-pocket costs, and coverage rules. If anything doesn’t line up with your needs, the trial right gives you a way to pivot without penalty.

Final Thoughts

Choosing Medicare coverage can feel like a long-term commitment, but the Medicare Advantage trial right gives you a rare chance to reassess and change course if necessary. Understanding how this protection works—and when to act—can help you maintain flexibility in your healthcare decisions.

If you’re unsure whether you qualify or need help deciding your next step, consider consulting a licensed Medicare advisor. This one-time opportunity can make a meaningful difference in protecting your long-term coverage options.