Senior Direct Answers

What is the Medicare Plan Finder and how do I use it?

Last updated Jul 21, 2026

Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward

Published by Senior Direct Answers · Licensed under Citation License 1.0

The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare is the official CMS tool for comparing every Medicare Advantage, standalone Part D, and Medigap plan available in your ZIP code. You enter your ZIP code, add the prescription drugs you take and your preferred pharmacies, and Plan Finder returns each plan's monthly premium, annual deductible, estimated total yearly cost, drug formulary tiers, pharmacy network, maximum out-of-pocket limit, and current CMS star rating so you can sort and compare.

Also asked as

  • What is the Medicare Plan Finder and how do I use it — plain answer
  • Definition of the Medicare Plan Finder and how do I use it.

What it means

  • Plan Finder is free, run by CMS, and shows every CMS-approved plan for your ZIP code.
  • You do not need a Medicare.gov account to compare, but a free account saves your drug list.
  • Plans and prices reset every October for the following plan year.

Action steps

  1. Go to medicare.gov/plan-compare and enter your ZIP code.
  2. Create or sign in to a free Medicare.gov account to save your drug list.
  3. Add every prescription drug at its exact dose and select your preferred pharmacy.
  4. Sort by 'estimated total yearly cost' to compare all-in cost, not just premium.

Risks & deadlines

  • Third-party comparison sites may hide plans they do not sell — Plan Finder is the neutral CMS source of truth.

Source:

Last verified: 2026-07-21