The agency said the upgrades are designed to help beneficiaries more easily compare plan options and choose the one they prefer.
The changes, announced Oct. 1, include a questionnaire to help seniors decide between original Medicare or Medicare Advantage; an out-of-pocket cost calculator that will show estimated overall costs and prescription drug costs; a simplified log-in for the Medicare Plan Finder tool; and a webchat option.
The annual Medicare open enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. According to CMS, about 10,000 people join Medicare daily.
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