CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) commends the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) and Administrator Oz for the recent decision to extend enrollment flexibility for Medicare beneficiaries who selected health plans based on incorrect information in the Medicare Plan Finder tool.
According to a CMS memo, individuals who enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans using inaccurate directory data will now be allowed to switch to a different MA plan or original Medicare throughout 2026. This move comes in response to errors identified in the first year of the plan finder, despite CMS’ efforts to ensure the tool’s accuracy.
“The extended enrollment window gives patients a second chance to choose coverage that actually meets their needs and allows them to stay with their preferred physician and retain relationships that have existed for years,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala. “CMS Administrator Oz and his team deserve credit for their responsiveness. Identifying problems and working quickly and decisively to address them is a sign of leadership.”
CMS will grant additional time for individuals who rely on directory information in the plan finder, enroll in an MA plan through the plan finder, and within three months discover their preferred provider was not actually in the MA plan’s provider network. The intent of this additional time is to allow individuals to change their MA plan selection or change back to Original Medicare in order to stay with their preferred provider.
To request a plan change, CMS says affected individuals must call 1-800-MEDICARE. A representative will verify that the original enrollment occurred directly through Medicare Plan Finder and then process the enrollment change.
The AMA recently welcomed enhancements to the Medicare Plan Finder that make it easier for patients to find plans that include their trusted doctors and hospitals. These changes, coupled with CMS’s responsive action, are important steps toward a more transparent and patient-centered Medicare system.
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
