In the midst of Medicare’s annual open enrollment period, a government tool designed to look up and compare plans has created massive headaches for older Americans.
Federal health officials are now scrambling to fix tech issues, first reported by The Washington Post, that are displaying inaccuracies in the new online directory for Medicare Advantage plans on the Medicare Plan Finder (MPF). (1)
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Hosted on Medicare.gov, the MPF is supposed to make it easy for beneficiaries to shop for coverage, but The Post found the tool frequently showed wrong and conflicting information about whether providers were in-network for a particular plan. Experts fear this might confuse beneficiaries and lead them to pay big health bills if they’re misinformed about their plans, reports the publication.
Medicare, the government program that provides health insurance to Americans over the age of 65, as well as people with disabilities, serves 60-plus million people, with around 34 million enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, according to KFF. (2) Even a small issue with the enrollment process can have far-reaching consequences.
How to avoid problems with the MPF
A statement from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent to news outlets said the agency is addressing “some user interface and data alignment issues to ensure the best possible experience” for consumers.
While the HHS is working to fix the issues, beneficiaries should ensure their provider is covered under their any new plan by verifying the information provided in the MPF. That can be done by visiting the plan’s website directly or working with a broker to ensure you’re selecting the right plan.
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However, experts acknowledge that it can be challenging to verify information manually, which is precisely why the new MPF was designed. Having all the information in one easy-to-navigate tool “is a step toward addressing a long-standing shortcoming for the plan finder,” Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, associate director for the Program on Medicare Policy at KFF told AARP. (3)
What happens if you choose the wrong plan?
Medicare open enrollment for 2026 runs from Oct. 15th to Dec. 7. During this time, Medicare users can change their plan, switch how they get coverage or select a new drug plan.
However, if you wind up choosing a bad plan by mistake, you may be in luck. A memo posted by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) back in September says a special election period will be opened to allow certain individuals who enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans with effective dates from Jan. 1 to Dec. 1 of 2026, to switch plans. Only those who relied on MPF directory information to select a Medicare Advantage plan, enrolled in a plan through the MPF and discovered within three months of coverage starting that their preferred provider was not in the plan’s network may be eligible. To be granted a special election period, individuals must call 1-800-MEDICARE.
While Medicare officials work to iron out the kinks, consumers shouldn’t wait for fixes to protect themselves. Double-check all information before enrolling — and if something doesn’t add up, verify directly with the insurer. A few extra minutes now could save you thousands in uncovered medical bills later.
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Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
The Washington Post (1); KFF (2); AARP (3)
This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: Health officials scrambling to fix new Medicare directory after report finds errors that could cost seniors even more
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