What are my guaranteed issue "Trial Rights" with any Medicare program?

Medicare Guaranteed Issue (GI) Trial Rights are a set of protections that provide individuals with the opportunity to enroll in certain Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement Insurance outside of their initial enrollment period without having to undergo medical underwriting or be denied coverage based on their health status. These protections apply to individuals who are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. Under the Guaranteed Issue Trial Rights, individuals have the right to enroll in certain Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans during a designated trial period lasting 12 months. During this trial period, individuals have the right to switch plans or return to their previous coverage without penalty.

Guaranteed Issue Rights (also called "Medigap Protections") are rights you have in certain situations when insurance companies must offer you certain Medigap policies. In these situations, an insurance company:

There are several circumstances that may trigger Guaranteed Issue Trial Rights, including:

• Must sell you a Medigap policy if you are eligible.
• Must cover all your pre-existing health conditions
• Must cover all your pre-existing health conditions
• Can't charge you more for a Medigap policy because of past or present health problems

In most cases, you have a guaranteed issue when you have other health coverage that changes in some way, like when you lose the other health coverage. In other cases, you have a "trial right" to try a Medicare Advantage Part C or go back to Original Medicare and then purchase a Medigap policy if you change your mind.