Mega Doctor News
CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) is reminding Medicare patients that the annual open enrollment period has several important updates to make it easier for patients to select plans that include their physicians.
For 2026 coverage, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is introducing new features to its Medicare Plan Finder tool. Among the most anticipated changes is the addition of physician network directories —an improvement long advocated for by the AMA—allowing patients to confirm whether their current physicians are in network before choosing a plan. Also for 2026, CMS says Medicare Plan Finder will provide details about more supplemental benefits such as weight management programs, enhanced security measures to safeguard Medicare accounts, and more filtering options to match beneficiaries’ specific needs.
“We appreciate Administrator Oz and CMS for taking steps that put patients first. By making the enrollment process more intuitive, CMS is striving to make signing up for health care a painless procedure,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, M.D. “These changes make it easier for people to choose plans that preserve their relationships with their trusted physicians.”
The annual open enrollment period for the Medicare program is through Dec. 7. During this time, people eligible for Medicare can compare 2026 coverage options online at Medicare.gov. They can use the Medicare Plan Finder to review different Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and take action to change from their current MA plan to a different MA plan, switch from Original Medicare to an MA plan, or switch from an MA plan to Original Medicare. The open enrollment period is also the time that people with Medicare can review their Part D prescription drug coverage. People who want to keep their current Medicare coverage do not need to re-enroll.
The AMA has heard from patients struggling to navigate the Plan Finder, and we have urged CMS (PDF) to deliver a one-stop tool where patients can: verify if a doctor or hospital is in network; filter plans by specialty, location, language, and hospital affiliation; and avoid post-enrollment surprises.
In addition to the Medicare Plan Finder, Medicare beneficiaries are encouraged to call 1-800-MEDICARE for help comparing plans and costs. 1-800-MEDICARE is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide help. The State Health Insurance Assistance Programs are also a great way for people to get unbiased help choosing the best Medicare coverage for their needs. Another resource is an AMA issue brief (PDF) comparing traditional Medicare and MA, which defines and explains factors such as networks, cost-sharing, and Medigap plans that may play a role in patient decisions about how they want to obtain their Medicare coverage.
