On May 26, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced some enhancements to Medicare Plan Finder (MPF) for Contract Year 2022.
Here’s a quick look at the coming changes as we prepare for AEP:
- No more “Estimated Total Yearly Costs for Care:” the estimated yearly costs section of the Plan Details overview will no longer be present. The Office of Communications is currently trying to find a better way to help beneficiaries understand and compare healthcare costs in Plan Finder. This change won’t impact the estimation of drug costs.
- Finding in-network pharmacies, particularly preferred pharmacies, will be a lot easier. This change will appear on the Plan Details page for Part C and Part D plans.
- The Plan Details page will have a fresh new look so beneficiaries can better find benefits and cost-sharing information. There will even be a new drug table that breaks down the cost of each individual drug toward the total annual drug cost.
- The print options, filter layout, and visibility of the Plan Results, Plan Compare, and Plan Details pages are getting a redesign. It should be easier to read and compare options.
- The Coverage Wizard, PACE, and SPAP/PAP pages will be updated to match the new design of Medicare.gov.
- The OEC form will be enhanced to improve usability. Beneficiaries will be able to clearly select the appropriate language for take-home materials.
- The Special Election Period (SEP) page will be simplified, including limiting “other” SEP options, so they’re only visible to CMS customer service reps.
- The OEC will be updated to include additional SEP codes.
Overall, Medicare’s Plan Finder should be easier to use than ever, making it simpler to compare plans, print the results, and find the best value for your clients. We’ll keep you posted on any other updates from CMS leading up to AEP.
