How to Use Medicare.gov Plan Finder

Medicare.gov's Plan Finder is a free tool to compare plans available in your area. This guide walks you through each step, focusing on what matters most: your prescription drugs. By the end, you'll have narrowed your choices down to 2 or 3 plans worth digging deeper into.

When to use Plan Finder: Every fall, from October 15 to December 7, during Medicare's open enrollment period. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get a second window: January 1 to March 31, when you can switch to another Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare. You can browse anytime, but you can only enroll during those windows (or a special enrollment window due to a life change).

Step 1: Log In or Search Anonymously

Go to Medicare.gov and click "Plan Finder" or "Compare Plans."

You have two choices:

Log in to your Medicare account — This is best. Medicare will remember your information and your current plan. The results will be more tailored and accurate. Create a free account if you don't have one.
Search without logging in (anonymously) — This works, but you'll type in your information each time. It's fine if you just want a quick look.

Either way works. Logging in just makes it faster if you come back.

Step 2: Enter Your ZIP Code

The tool starts by asking where you live. Type your ZIP code. This is critical because plans available in one ZIP code might not be available in another. Medicare uses this to show you only plans in your area.

Step 3: Choose Plan Type

You'll see options:

Part D plans only — If you already have Original Medicare and a supplement and just want to compare drug plans.
Medicare Advantage and Part D — If you're choosing between Original Medicare and Advantage, or switching Advantage plans.
Medicare Advantage only — If you just want to see Advantage plans. Most Advantage plans include drug coverage, but not all do (some fee-for-service and medical savings account plans don't) — always check.

Most people pick "Medicare Advantage and Part D" because they want the full comparison.

Step 4: Add Your Prescription Drugs (This Is the Most Important Step)

This is where most people stop too early. Don't.

The tool will ask you to list your medications. Type in every prescription drug you take, including the dose (like "lisinopril 20 mg"). Add your supplements too if you can — not all plans cover them.

Why this matters: Your total out-of-pocket drug cost is often the biggest difference between plans. Two plans might have the same premium, but one could cost you $200 a month for drugs and the other $600. This step shows you that difference.

If you have a lot of drugs, it might take a few minutes, but it's worth it. Some pharmacies have printed lists of your medications — call and ask for one to save time here.

Don't know your exact dose? Your prescription bottle, pharmacy receipt, or doctor's office can tell you. It only takes a phone call. It's worth getting right — a different dose of the same drug might be on a different coverage tier and cost you more.

Step 5: Choose Your Pharmacy

Plans cover drugs at different costs depending on where you fill them. Most plans cost less at big chains (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart) and pharmacies inside supermarkets. Some specialty pharmacies are cheaper for specific expensive drugs.

If you have a pharmacy you like or need to use (maybe it's the only one near you, or they know your allergies), add it now. If you're flexible, you can skip this — but come back and check it when you narrow down to your top choices.

Step 6: See Your Results

The tool now shows you a list of plans ranked by total estimated cost. This is the key number: total estimated cost includes your premium, deductible, copays, and coinsurance all added up for the year. This is not just what you pay in premiums.

The cheapest plan at the top might save you hundreds of dollars a year. But don't just pick the first one. Read the next steps before deciding.

Step 7: Understand What You're Reading

The Total Estimated Cost

This number adds up everything you'll probably pay in a year — premium, deductible, copays for doctor visits, and drug costs. It's the most important number to compare.

The Premium

This is your monthly cost for the plan, separate from copays and drug costs. A low premium doesn't mean a low total cost — you might pay more for doctor visits and drugs.

Drug Tiers and Formulary

Each plan has a list of covered drugs called a formulary. Your drugs are put into "tiers" — tier 1 costs less, tier 2 costs more, and tier 3 or 4 costs the most. The Plan Finder shows you which tier your drugs are on. Look at all your drugs, not just one or two.

Warning: Even if your drug is on the formulary, the cost can change mid-year. Plans can move drugs to a higher tier or remove them. This is rare, but possible. When you've narrowed to your top 2 or 3 plans, call them and confirm that the drugs your list is accurate and won't change.

Star Ratings

Plans get 1 to 5 stars based on customer satisfaction, quality, and service. Higher is better. A 5-star plan is highest quality. This doesn't predict whether a plan is right for you — the best plan is the one that covers your drugs affordably — but star ratings can be a tiebreaker if two plans cost about the same.

Step 8: Check Your Doctor's Network

This is a trap many people miss. Plan Finder shows you whether doctors are in-network. But the tool doesn't always have current information. Just because it says your doctor is in-network doesn't mean they still are, or that they're still accepting patients.

Do this:

Make a list of the doctors you want to keep: your primary care doctor, any specialists, and your eye doctor or dentist if they matter to you.
When you narrow to your top plans, go to each plan's website and look up your doctors in their network directory.
Call your doctor's office and confirm: "I'm thinking about plan XYZ. Are you in their network? Are you accepting new patients?"

This phone call is worth 10 minutes of your time. Getting locked into a plan where your doctor isn't network leaves you paying a lot more. Or worse, you get stuck with a new doctor.

Step 9: Narrow Down to Your Top 2 or 3

By now you've compared total costs, seen your drug tiers, and confirmed your doctors are in-network. Pick your top 2 or 3 plans.

For each, ask yourself:

Is the total cost reasonable?
Are my main drugs on lower tiers?
Are my doctors in-network?
Can I afford the premium and copays?

Step 10: Ask the Hard Questions Before You Enroll

Before you pick a plan, call it and ask these questions. See Questions to Ask for a full list, but the key ones are:

"My doctor is listed as in-network. Can you confirm they're taking new patients?"
"I take these three drugs. Can you confirm they're on these tiers and won't change mid-year?"
"What's my copay for urgent care? An ER visit?"
"Do I need a referral to see a specialist?"

Getting Free Help

You don't have to do this alone. These services are free and don't sell plans:

SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) — Call shiphelp.org to find your state's number. A counselor will walk through Plan Finder with you and help you understand your options. This might be the best use of 30 minutes you can make.
1-800-MEDICARE — Call 1-800-633-4227 for questions about specific plans.
Plan-sponsored counselors — Many Medicare plans offer free counseling to help you understand their plan.

Important Limits of Plan Finder

Plan Finder is a great starting point, but it's not the full story. Here's what it doesn't tell you:

Network changes mid-year: A doctor listed as in-network might leave the plan. Always confirm directly with the doctor.
Formulary changes: The drug list can change. Call the plan to confirm it won't change on you.
Prior authorization: Some plans require you to get approval before they'll cover certain drugs. The tool doesn't tell you this.
Customer service quality: Some plans are known for poor customer service. Read recent reviews and ask your SHIP counselor.
Specialized networks: If you use a hospital system for cancer care or dialysis, Plan Finder might not show you whether that system is in-network. Call and ask.

When to Use Plan Finder Again

Plans change every year. Your drug costs, plan network, and formulary all might change on January 1. Revisit Plan Finder every October during open enrollment to make sure you're still in the best plan. Even if you were happy last year, a new plan might be cheaper this year, or your current plan might have raised prices.

Making Your Final Choice

After Plan Finder, you've compared costs and narrowed down. Now:

Call your top plan and ask the hard questions (see Step 10).
Call your doctor's office and confirm they're in-network and taking new patients.
Read the plan's summary of benefits (the plan will send you this if you ask, or it's on their website).
Enroll during an enrollment window — fall open enrollment (October 15 – December 7), or January 1 – March 31 if you're switching out of a Medicare Advantage plan — online, by phone, or with a counselor.

Verify at the source: Plan Finder information changes regularly. Network changes, formularies change, and costs change. Always verify current information directly with the plan and your doctors. This page explains how to use the tool, not as a substitute for doing your own verification. When in doubt, call your SHIP or Medicare.gov.