What exactly is a Medicare Trial Right?
When a Medicare eligible individual enrolls in Original Medicare Parts A & B and decide that they would like to try a Medicare Advantage plan. A trial right also exists for those that are enrolled in Original Medicare, a Medicare Supplement & PDP plan, but decide they would like to give an Advantage plan a shot. Once they enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan they are given a twelve month free look period with the plan, during this time they are able to flip back to Original Medicare and pick up a Supplement and PDP at any time if they wish to go back to their previous coverage option.
When Can The Trial Right Be Used?
There are two possible times that a trial right can be used. The first time it can be used is when an individual elects to take a MAPD plan straight out the gate during their initial coverage election period. From the month that they pick up the MAPD plan they then have twelve months to decide if the MAPD is a good choice for them or if they would like to carry Original Medicare and a supplement & PDP plan instead. The alternative trial right option is available when an individual decides to try an Advantage plan down the road after their ICEP. They may have just had Original Medicare or Original Medicare, Supplement & PDP at first election period but later on decide to try an MAPD for the first time.
Things To Note
The trial right only exists for the first time an individual tries an Advantage plan, and they can only use this trial right once. Beneficiaries are able to enroll in a Supplement plan as early as 60 days before their MAPD plan is scheduled to end, and cannot enroll in a Supplement later than 63 days after their MAPD coverage ends. If you elect to use your trial right and decide to revert back to Original Medicare and a Supplement, you must not forget to pick up a PDP plan as well to avoid potential penalties.
