On August 27, just in time for Medicare enrollment season (October 15, 2019 through December 7, 2019), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a modernized and redesigned Medicare Plan Finder online tool.
As explained in the CMS press release, the redesigned Medicare Plan Finder will make it easier for beneficiaries to:
- Compare pricing between Original Medicare, Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policies;
- Compare coverage options on their smartphones and tablets;
- Compare up to three drug plans or three Medicare Advantage plans side-by-side;
- Get plan costs and benefits, including which Medicare Advantage plans offer extra benefits;
- Build a personal drug list and find Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage that best meets
- Enroll in Medicare Advantage and/or Part D from start to finish.
This online tool does not replace Medicare's traditional customer service options. People with Medicare will continue to have access to paper copies of the Medicare & You handbook and be able get help over the phone using 1-800-MEDICARE. But when computer savvy patients ask for guidance on what Medicare plan to pick for next year, in addition to telling them what plans the providers participate in, providers can also refer them to the Medicare Plan Finder.
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