Making the switch from private health insurance to Medicare can be confusing, and even a bit anxiety-inducing. Sure, Medicare is great, but it’s not always easy to navigate if you’re not used to it. There are a lot of little things that people are unaware of when they enroll in Medicare and purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan. For example, did you know that you have a Medicare “trial right”? This right gives you the ability to test out the Medicare Supplement Plan that you’ve purchased, and if you don’t like the plan or it doesn’t work for your needs, you can switch it for another one. But remember, you only have a limited amount of time to do so!
How Long Is Your Medicare Trial Right?
You can technically purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan whenever you want, but if you purchase it when you first turn 65, you can avoid the underwriting process. The underwriting process is when the insurer issuing your Medicare Supplement Plan reviews your medical history; they can charge you more for your premiums or deny you coverage based on your health status.
And if you do choose to purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan or even a Medicare Advantage Plan, you have time to try out the plan, known as your trial right. For a Medicare Advantage Plan, you have a full 12 months to try out the plan, and if you think it isn’t right for you, you can switch to Original Medicare and even purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan, as well. The great thing about this trial time is that, even if you choose to switch plans, you can still bypass the underwriting process, and continue to have what is known as a guaranteed issue. You will have 63 days to decide if you want to purchase a Medicare Supplement plan once you’ve switched to Original Medicare.
Now let’s say you purchased a Medicare Supplement Plan when you enrolled in Medicare, but you feel like the plan you chose is not working for you. You will have 30 days to change your plan to a different Medicare Supplement Plan. There are 10 different plans that you can choose from that offer different coverage and premium prices.
Can You Have More Than One Trial Right Period?
Unfortunately, once you exercise your trial right to switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement Plan, or vice versa, you will not get another chance to switch. If you want to change plans again, you will have to enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan and go through medical underwriting. However, that does not mean you won’t still be able to find a great, affordable plan!
You can work with a Medicare agent to figure out your best option when it comes to your Medicare Supplement Plan, so you can find a plan that covers everything you need covered, and that fits in your budget.
To save as much money as you can, speak to an EZ agent for all of your options. EZ’s agents work with the top-rated insurance companies in the nation and can compare plans for you in minutes at no cost. To get free instant quotes for plans that cover your current doctors, simply enter your zip code in the bar on the side, or to speak to a licensed agent, call 888-753-7207.