CMS Announces Enhancements to the Medicare Plan Finder for 2026

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced big changes coming to the Medicare Plan Finder (MPF) and Medicare.gov starting in Contract Year (CY) 2026. These updates are designed to improve transparency, simplify the enrollment process, and make it easier for beneficiaries to compare their Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D options.

Here’s what you need to know:

Key Enhancements for CY 2026

1. MA Provider Directory Information

Up until now, Medicare Plan Finder did not include provider network information. Beneficiaries had to visit plan websites or contact plans directly to see if their doctors or hospitals were in-network.

That’s changing in CY 2026. CMS will integrate MA provider directory data into MPF so users can check whether their providers are in-network right on Medicare.gov (CMS Memo).

• CMS contracted with SunFire Matrix, Inc. to supply this network data for most MA plan types (Local CCPs, Regional PPOs, MSAs, and PFFS).

• Plans not already in the SunFire dataset are encouraged to submit their provider data.

• Initial submissions are due September 8, 2025, with weekly updates required afterward.

• If a plan doesn’t provide data, MPF will display a link to that plan’s directory instead, but beneficiaries won’t be able to search by provider name within MPF.

2. Expanded Display of MA Supplemental Benefits

Starting October 1, 2025, MPF will enhance how supplemental benefits are shown. Instead of only “some coverage/no coverage” labels, MPF will display:

• In-network vs. out-of-network cost sharing

• Authorization requirements

• Any plan limits

Six new supplemental benefit categories will also be added:

• Wigs for hair loss related to chemotherapy

• Weight management programs

• Home-based palliative care

• Re-admission prevention

• Post-discharge in-home medication reconciliation

• Adult day health services (CMS Memo)

These changes won’t appear in early preview windows but will be visible in HPMS prior to MPF’s Go-Live.

3. New AI-Powered Drug Search Tool

CMS is developing an AI-driven drug search interface on Medicare.gov to help beneficiaries more easily find and compare prescription drug coverage (CMS Memo).

Regulatory & Rulemaking Context

These enhancements are part of the CY 2026 Final Rule for Medicare Advantage and Part D (Federal Register).

Highlights include:

• MA organizations must submit provider directory data to CMS in the required format.

• Updates must be made within 30 days of changes.

• Plans must attest annually to the accuracy of their directory data.

• CMS is not requiring plans to confirm directory data matches network adequacy filings.

These rules aim to improve the accuracy of plan comparisons and strengthen consumer protections.

Why This Matters for Agents

• Transparency for clients: Your clients will finally be able to see provider-level network data directly in MPF.

• Accountability for plans: With required updates and attestations, plans must maintain accurate provider directories.

• Operational demands: Carriers face new data submission and update requirements. Expect some growing pains during rollout.

• Better benefit comparisons: Expanded supplemental benefits display will help clients evaluate the true value of “extras.”

• Remedy for errors: If a client joins a plan using inaccurate MPF data and later discovers their provider is out-of-network, CMS will allow an extended window in 2026 to switch or revert to Original Medicare (AMA Release).

Bottom Line

These CY 2026 enhancements signal CMS’s commitment to greater transparency, accuracy, and usability in the Medicare enrollment process. For agents, this means:

• Staying informed on how these changes affect your clients’ decision-making.

• Watching for discrepancies in provider data during the transition.

• Guiding clients through new tools like the AI-powered drug search.

As always, being the trusted resource for your clients means staying a step ahead of these regulatory and technology updates.