Compare Plans and Providers on Medicare.gov
Compare Plans:
Review your Medicare health plan and prescription drug plan each fall to be sure the coverage for the next year still meets your needs. Your health, your finances, or your plan may have changed in the last year. Even if you are satisfied, there may be other plans that better meet your needs.
To compare plans, visit www.medicare.gov on the web. Under “Search Tools,” select the following:
• “Compare Health Plans and Medigap Policies” Medicare Options Compare lets you compare cost and quality of care information about Medicare plans including the Original Medicare Plan, Medicare Advantage Plans (like an HMO or PPO), and other Medicare health plans. You can also compare Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policies.
“Compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans” Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder lets you compare cost, performance, and coverage information about Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. Have your Medicare card and list of your prescription drugs to get personalized drug plan information.
Compare Providers Compare Medicare and/or Medicaid-certified hospitals, home health agencies, nursing homes, or dialysis facilities anywhere in the nation. Use the information when you talk to your doctor about where to get your care.
To Compare Providers, visit www.medicare.gov on the web.
Under “Search Tools,” select the following:
• “Compare Hospitals” Hospital Compare lets you compare hospital quality information, such as how often hospitals gave recommended treatments for certain conditions like a heart attack or pneumonia and what hospital patients thought about the quality of their hospital experience.
• “Compare Home Health Agencies” Home Health Compare lets you compare home health agencies by the quality of care they give, such as pain control, wound healing, and how well patients improve their ability to perform basic daily activities. • “Compare Nursing Homes” Nursing Home Compare lets you compare nursing home quality by looking at Medicare’s quality information, state inspection results, and nurse staffing information. • “Compare Dialysis Facilities” Dialysis Facility Compare lets you compare dialysis facilities by looking at quality information such as the adequacy of dialysis treatments, survival rates, and other important features Find out more about the quality of care and services The search tools on www.medicare.gov give you a “snap shot” of the quality of care and services health plans, prescription drug plans, and health care providers give.
Find Out More by Doing the Following:
• Ask what your health plan, prescription drug plan, or health care provider does to ensure and improve the quality of its care and services. Every plan and provider should have someone you can talk to about quality.
• Ask your doctor what he or she thinks about the quality of care or services the plan or provider gives. Talk to your doctor about the information you find on www.medicare.gov on the web.
For Help Comparing Plans and Providers:
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
• Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). For their number, visit www.medicare.gov on the web. Under “Search Tools,” select “Find Helpful Phone Numbers and Websites.”
Get Personalized Information from Medicare Register at www.MyMedicare.gov on the web (Medicare’s secure online service for accessing your personal Medicare information.)
You can track your health care claims and preventive services, get copies of your Medicare Summary Notices, and more!