The Medigap Free Look Period and How to Use It
When clients are considering a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, they want to be sure they’re making the right choice. Fortunately, Medicare gives beneficiaries a way to try out a new Medigap plan without fully giving up their old one; it’s called the Medigap Free Look Period.
As an agent, knowing how this works helps you guide clients through transitions confidently and avoid gaps in coverage.
What Is the Medigap Free Look Period
The Medigap Free Look Period is a 30-day window that allows Medicare beneficiaries to try out a new Medigap policy while keeping their current one.
This is helpful when a client isn’t sure if the new plan will meet their needs; for example, if they are switching from a Plan F to a Plan G or moving to a carrier with a lower premium.
Watch a YouTube video on Medicare Supplement Underwriting (GI & Non-GI States)
How the Free Look Period Works
Here’s how the process goes step by step:
- Apply for the New Medigap Plan
- Your client must be accepted by the new Medigap plan (and if underwriting is required, they must pass).
- Keep Paying for the Old Policy
- Even after the new plan starts, your client must keep paying premiums for their old Medigap policy during the 30-day free look period.
- This ensures there’s no gap in coverage if they decide to go back.
- Evaluate the New Coverage
- Over the 30 days, your client can use the new Medigap plan and see how it works with their needs.
- Decide Whether to Keep It
- If they like the new plan, they can cancel the old one after the 30 days.
- If they don’t, they can cancel the new plan and keep the old one; no harm done.
Important Things to Remember
- Two Premiums Are Due: Clients will pay two Medigap premiums during the free look period; one for the old plan and one for the new. This is often the biggest surprise for beneficiaries, so prepare them ahead of time.
- Coverage Overlap Is Intentional: The goal is to avoid any lapse in coverage while deciding which plan to keep.
- Act Within 30 Days: If the client decides to go back to their old policy, they must notify the new carrier before the free look period ends.
Why Agents Should Talk About It
Educating clients about the Medigap Free Look Period builds trust. Many people hesitate to switch plans out of fear of losing coverage or making the wrong choice. When you explain that they can try a new plan risk-free, you help them feel confident in making a change. That helps position you as a knowledgeable, client-first agent.
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The Medigap Free Look Period is a great tool to help beneficiaries compare coverage and costs without the stress of losing their existing plan. As an agent, you can guide them through the process, set clear expectations about paying two premiums, and help them decide which plan is the best long-term fit.
Empower your clients with this knowledge; it may be exactly what they need to take the next step toward better coverage and savings.