The Medicare Advantage trial right (also called the "first 12 months" or "OEP-NEW" right) lets you return to Original Medicare AND buy a Medigap policy with guaranteed-issue rights if you joined a Medicare Advantage plan during your initial Medicare enrollment and decide within 12 months that it's not for you. This is one of the most underused protections in Medicare.
The two trial right scenarios:
Scenario 1 — First-time Medicare enrollee tried MA at age 65 and wants to switch back
You're newly eligible for Medicare at 65. You enrolled in Medicare Advantage during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). You've been on the MA plan for less than 12 months. You realize MA isn't a fit — maybe your doctor isn't in-network, your specialist requires authorization, or your drug formulary changed and now your meds cost more.
Your trial right:
- Disenroll from your MA plan
- Return to Original Medicare
- Purchase a Medigap policy from any carrier with guaranteed issue (no medical underwriting, no health questions, no pre-existing condition surcharges)
- Add a Part D drug plan (also guaranteed-issue during the trial right window)
The Medigap guaranteed-issue right typically covers Plan A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L (the most popular plans). Some states have additional protections.
Scenario 2 — Current Medigap holder switched to MA and wants to switch back
You had a Medigap policy. You dropped it to try Medicare Advantage. Within 12 months of dropping the Medigap policy, you decide MA wasn't right and want to return.
Your trial right:
- Disenroll from MA
- Return to Original Medicare
- Purchase the SAME Medigap policy from the same carrier if it's still available, or
- Purchase any Medigap Plan A, B, C, F, K, or L from any carrier with guaranteed issue
- Add a Part D drug plan
The 12-month clock:
- Starts the day your MA plan is effective
- You must initiate the disenrollment + Medigap purchase within 12 months
- Don't wait until month 13 — your guaranteed-issue right expires
Why this is so valuable:
Normally, after age 65, Medigap is medically underwritten in most states (8 states have year-round protections; see our birthday rule answer). If you've developed health conditions, you may face:
- Outright denial
- Premium surcharges of 20–50%
- Pre-existing condition waiting periods
- Limited carrier choices
The 12-month trial right bypasses all of this. You're treated as if you're newly eligible — same rates, no underwriting, any participating carrier.
How to use the trial right:
- Confirm your eligibility — get the date your MA plan started. The 12-month clock runs from there.
- Quote Medigap policies in your state BEFORE disenrolling. Get firm rates from 5–10 carriers. Compare the same plan letter (e.g., Plan G) across all of them.
- Submit your Medigap application first. Don't disenroll from MA until your Medigap policy is confirmed and effective.
- Add a Part D plan. Medigap doesn't include drug coverage. Pick a Part D plan based on your specific medications.
- Submit your MA disenrollment through Social Security (1-800-MEDICARE) or your MA carrier. Confirm in writing.
- Coordinate effective dates. You want zero gap between MA ending and Medigap + Original Medicare beginning.
Common mistakes:
- Waiting too long. The 12-month window is hard. After day 365, you face medical underwriting.
- Dropping MA before securing Medigap. If your application is delayed or denied, you'd be on Original Medicare with no supplement and no Part D.
- Not knowing it exists. Most members never hear of the trial right. Carriers don't mention it.
- Confusing it with the OEP (January 1 – March 31). OEP is a different window for existing MA members to switch ONCE per year. Trial right is a separate, year-long protection for first-time MA enrollees.
What if you missed the 12-month window?
You can still switch from MA to Original Medicare during AEP (Oct 15 – Dec 7) or OEP (Jan 1 – Mar 31), but:
- You'd face medical underwriting on Medigap (in most states)
- You may be denied or charged higher rates
- Some states (NY, CT, MA, ME, VT, WA) have year-round protections regardless
The opposite trial right (returning to MA after Medigap):
If you tried Medigap first and want to switch to MA, you can do that during AEP or OEP — no special trial right needed. The trial right asymmetry (MA → Medigap, but not Medigap → MA without protections) reflects that MA doesn't have underwriting; you can always join MA without health questions.
What to do next: Call (866) 534-1886. We confirm whether your trial right is still active, quote every Medigap carrier in your state, and time the switch to avoid any coverage gap. Free.