How to Use Medicare.gov and the Medicare Plan Finder (2024 Update)

Medicare.gov makes it simple to find Medicare plans in your area.

By filling out a brief questionnaire, you can see a list of Medicare options that may work for you. Below, we explore some of the questions you'll be asked and explain how to enroll.

How to Navigate Medicare.gov

There is a range of detailed information on Medicare.gov that can help you zero in on the best plan for your needs.

These features can be found in the dropdown tabs in the horizontal menu bar near the top of the page, as listed below in this guide.

Medicare Basics

• Getting started with Medicare
  Learn about the different parts of Medicare, when to enroll and how to select your coverage.
  
  
• Medicare costs
  This section includes information about Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) costs, costs for Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plans, how to pay your premiums and how to receive assistance paying your Medicare costs for those who are qualified. There is also a condensed summary of basic Medicare costs for easy reference and a tool to help you compare the average cost of procedures performed in surgical centers and outpatient departments.
  
  
• Your Medicare rights
  Learn about your rights and protections as a Medicare beneficiary including how to safeguard your privacy.
  
  
• Reporting Medicare fraud and abuse
  Medicare fraud happens more than many people realize, and this page includes helpful information about how to identify fraud and abuse, how to report it and how to protect yourself.
  
  
• End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
  Having ESRD can qualify you for Medicare before the age of 65. Learn about eligibility rules, costs, coverage options and more for people with ESRD.
  
  
• Talk to someone
  Call Medicare or take advantage of a 24/7 live online chat tool for help with all things Medicare.
  
  
• Forms, publications and mailing
  Access various Medicare forms for filing claims or appeals and other materials. 
  
  
• Medicare and You handbook
  Download a copy of the annual Medicare and You handbook or request a paper copy in the mail.
  
  
• Advance directives and long-term care
  Advance directives are instructions on how you wish medical decisions will be made on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself. Learn how to put these directives into place and how they work.

Health and Drug Plans

• Find health and drug plans
  Select this option if you are ready to visit the Medicare Plan Finder and begin searching for coverage near you. 
  
  
• Compare coverage options
  See an outline of your different Medicare coverage options and learn how to compare.
  
  
• Find a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy
  Use this tool to search for Medigap plans in your area.
  
  
• Get started with health and drug plans.
  Learn about the types of Medicare health plans along with when and how you can enroll. 
  
  
• What health plans cover
  Learn more about the different types of Medicare Advantage plans and the benefits they offer.
  
  
• How plans work with other coverage
  Get an explanation for how Medicare works as a primary or secondary payer, conditional payments and other information about the coordination of coverage. You’ll also learn about retiree insurance coverage options and read up on Medicare Supplement Insurance including what it covers, how and when to enroll and how Medigap can cover emergency care administered outside of the U.S. 
  
  
• Drug coverage (Part D)
  Learn about the different ways to get Medicare prescription drug coverage, see a list of common Medicare drug plan costs and learn how Medicare Part D works with other types of insurance such as employer insurance, union, COBRA, food stamps, Medicaid, Veteran’s benefits and more.

Providers and Services

• Find care providers
  Find and compare Medicare doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care hospitals and other facilities that accept Medicare. 
  
  
• Find medical equipment and suppliers
  Access a searchable directory of durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers based on your zip code.
  
  
• Compare procedure costs
  Use this tool to compare national averages for various procedure costs and how much you’ll pay with Medicare and Medigap. 
  
  
• What Medicare covers
  Learn about the two main ways to get Medicare coverage – Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage – and what is covered by each. You’ll also learn what is not covered by Medicare and you can use a handy search tool to see if a particular test, item or service is covered.
  
  
• Claims and appeals
  Find out how to file a complaint with Medicare about a health care provider, your plan or other aspects of your Medicare coverage, learn the steps you’ll need to take to file or check the status of a Medicare claim and learn how to file an appeal and what the Medicare appeal process entails.

Additional tasks and information that can be performed or accessed on Medicare.gov include:

• Learn about the various enrollment circumstances and the steps you’ll need to follow for enrolling in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)
• Apply for Medicare online
• Check your enrollment
• Find out what drug plans cover and how much drugs cost
• Access a form that authorizes Medicare to disclose your personal health information to a third party and learning about other privacy issues
• Learn how to use the Medicare Blue Button to download your personal health information and link it to other programs and applications
• Learn about Medicare coordinated care programs

Log into your MyMedicare account for more information and to explore the Medicare services listed above.

Types of Medicare Plans

There are two main types of Medicare plans: Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.

Original Medicare

Original Medicare is managed by the federal government and consists of two parts: Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. 

• Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) covers inpatient care received in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.

• Medicare Part B (medical insurance) covers preventive care, durable medical equipment, lab tests, and medically necessary doctors' services.

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) are sold by private insurers. By law, they must provide at least the same basic benefits as Original Medicare, but many include additional benefits such as dental, vision or prescription drug coverage. 

One downside to Medicare Advantage, however, is that some plans require you to stay within a specific network. 

Find Health Care Providers in Your Area

If you are curious about health care services in your area, you can find providers by using some of the following Medicare.gov resources:

• Find physicians and other health care providers

• Find and compare hospitals

• Find and compare nursing homes

There are a number of other services you can find in your area using Medicare.gov, including inpatient rehab facilities and dialysis centers. Be sure to explore the site to find everything you need relating to your Original Medicare coverage.

Enrolling in Medicare 

You should enroll in Medicare as soon as you're first eligible. For many people, this is during your Medicare initial enrollment period. Your initial enrollment period is a seven-month period that begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes your birthday month, and extends three months after your 65th birthday. 

If you do not enroll in Medicare during your initial enrollment period, you could experience delays in coverage or have to pay a late penalty. 

If you have a qualifying disability or medical condition, you may be eligible for Medicare benefits before you turn 65. 

To enroll in Medicare, visit your local Social Security office or call them at 1-800-772-1213.

Plan for Out-of-Pocket Costs

While Original Medicare covers a number of health care costs for millions of Americans, it still leaves behind some out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, copays, coinsurance and other fees. These costs can add up quickly and can be difficult to predict.

Medicare Supplement Insurance plans are sold by private insurance companies to help cover some of Medicare's out-of-pocket costs. There are 10 standardized Medigap plans available in most states, and each type of plan offers a different combination of basic benefits.

Compare the basic benefits of all 10 standardized plans using the chart below.

You can use the 2024 Medigap plan chart below to compare the benefits that are offered by each type of plan. Use the scroll bar at the bottom of the chart to view all plans and information.

Speak With a Licensed Agent

Learn more about your Medicare coverage options by calling to speak with a licensed agent today.