Dear Marci,

I hear that I can change my Part D prescription drug coverage this fall if I would like. My Part D plan has worked fine for me this past year, but I still want to look at my other options. How do I use the Medicare.gov Plan Finder tool to compare Part D plans?

– Grace (Richmond, VA)

Dear Grace,

Yes, it is true that you can make changes to your coverage, including your Part D plan, during Fall Open Enrollment, which spans October 15 through December 7 of each year. Changes made during Fall Open Enrollment will be effective January 1 of the following year. Part D plans may change their costs and formularies (list of covered drugs) from year-to-year, so it is important to review your current plan and Annual Notice of Change to learn if your premium, deductible, or cost-sharing will change and whether your drugs will still be covered next year.  

Medicare Plan Finder is an online tool at www.medicare.gov that can be used to compare stand-alone Part D plans or Medicare Advantage Plans. Plan Finder provides information about costs, which drugs are included on the plan’s formulary, and the star rating of the plan.

To use Plan Finder, follow these steps:

• Go to www.medicare.gov and click on the button that says “Find 2021 Health and Drug Plans.”
• You can do a general search by clicking the “Continue Without Logging In” button. If you wish to save your results and information, you can log in using your MyMedicare account.
• Next, you can choose whether you are looking for a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan and enter your zip code.
• Then you can enter the drugs you take, choose the pharmacies you use, and indicate whether you are interested in a mail order option.

Plan Finder will display results for plans in your area. Note that a plan may not cover all of the drugs you take, but it may have alternatives on its formulary. Speak to your provider about whether these alternatives would be appropriate for you. Plan Finder also tells you if the plan has a deductible and how much the monthly premium is.

Initially, the plans will be sorted by “lowest drug + premium costs.” This is the closest estimate to what you may pay out of pocket for your Part D coverage for the year. You can select “Plan Details” to find out more specifics about coverage, including any coverage restrictions that might apply to your drugs.

Before enrolling, it is a good idea to call the plan directly to confirm any information you read on Plan Finder, as information may not be completely up-to-date. You can enroll in a plan online, by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, or by calling the plan directly.

You can make as many changes as you want between October 15 and December 7, but only the last change you make will take effect on January 1. If you choose a plan and realize that it is the wrong plan after Fall Open Enrollment is over, in most cases you will not be able to change your coverage until the next Fall Open Enrollment Period. For this reason, it is important to carefully consider all of your options and take the time to research each plan in order to make a decision that fits your health care needs.

– Marci