Medicare Website Meant to Help Seniors Choose Right Option Too Cumbersome, Incomplete, Charges GAO

A new U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report finds the Medicare Plan Finder (MPF) website is too difficult for many older adults to navigate and understand, according to Forbes . GAO also cited the MPF as lacking sufficient information to help seniors compare coverage options. The report highlighted navigation through multiple pages before displaying plan details, a dearth of prominent instructions to help beneficiaries pinpoint information, and complex jargon as major defects. Analysts noted the cost estimates on the website's plan results pages are incomplete because they do not feature the effect of Medigap, which helps underwrite beneficiaries' cost-sharing responsibilities under original Medicare. The report also said comparing plan costs is problematic, since the MPF poorly defines health coverage terminology and fails to use plain language. This leaves many seniors unable to understand cost differences between generic and brand-name medications. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services officials have informed GAO that an easier-to-use MPF should be introduced next month.