Guide
How to use the Medicare.gov plan finder for drug plans
The Medicare.gov plan finder gives an accurate answer, but it asks for every medicine by hand. Here is the full sequence, and where agents and agencies remove the typing.
1. Start with the ZIP code and county
Part D plans are sold county by county, so the plan finder asks for a ZIP code first. If the ZIP spans more than one county, pick the right one — premiums and pharmacy networks differ between them.
2. Answer the help-with-costs question
The plan finder asks whether the person gets Extra Help, Medicaid, or a Medicare Savings Program. Answer it honestly; the costs shown afterwards are based on it.
3. Choose drug plans, not Medicare Advantage
Select stand-alone prescription drug plans (Part D) if the goal is to keep Original Medicare and add drug coverage. Medicare Advantage with drug coverage is a separate path.
4. Enter every medicine with strength and quantity
This is the slow part. Each drug needs its name, strength, and how much is taken per fill. Getting a strength wrong changes the tier, and the tier changes the whole cost ranking.
5. Pick up to five pharmacies
The same plan can cost very differently at a preferred pharmacy, a standard pharmacy, and by mail order. Add the pharmacy the person actually uses plus one alternative before comparing.
6. Sort by lowest drug plus premium cost
The lowest monthly premium is rarely the lowest yearly cost. Sort by the estimated total, then check that every medicine is on the plan's formulary and note any restrictions like prior authorization.
7. Enroll on the plan's page
Once a plan is chosen, enrollment happens on Medicare.gov or with the plan. Keep the plan ID and the effective date for your records.
Where the manual entry disappears
The plan finder's slowest steps are drug entry and pharmacy comparison. RxPlanMatch does both automatically and still sends everyone to Medicare.gov to enroll.
- Clients give their medicines however they already have them: a phone photo, a pharmacy printout, a spreadsheet, or typed notes.
- Names, strengths, and directions are read for them, so nobody keys a drug list into a form.
- Every drug plan sold in that county is priced at preferred retail, standard retail, and mail order.
- The two least expensive matches come back with exact premiums and a button that opens that plan on Medicare.gov.
Important notice
RxPlanMatch is not a government website and is not Medicare.gov. Costs shown are estimates for comparison based on the official plan files loaded into the system. For every available plan, visit Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact your local SHIIP or SHIP office.
Compare a real drug list in minutes — 10 free comparisons.
Start freeMore reading: how to find the best Part D plan for a drug list and Part D software for agents and agencies.