August 2012 Updates to Medicare.gov Homepage

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today the redesign of the Medicare.gov website.  CMS noted that their new Medicare.gov homepage should allow users to directly find important content by adding links and search capabilities.

In particular, CMS noted that new Medicare.gov homepage features include:

•  "A search for whether a specific test, item, or service is covered under original Medicare;
•  The ability to get customized information based on a beneficiary’s specific situation;
•  Quick links to replace a lost Medicare card, find a Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plan, and get help with health care costs."

As mentioned, the Medicare.gov site added a new search box, while keeping the original search field in the upper-right margin of the homepage.

The primary Medicare.gov site navigation changed slightly and no longer has the five navigational categories of: Home - Manage Your Health - Medicare Basics - Resource Locator - Help & Support. 

The new top-margin horizontal navigation now contains eight categories: Sign Up / Change Plans - Your Medicare Costs - What Medicare Covers - Drug Coverage (Part D) - Supplements & Other Insurance - Claims & Appeals - Manage Your Health - Help & Resources.

As a note, although the Medicare.gov site no longer has the "Home" link in the top margin navigation, you naturally still find your way back to the Medicare.gov homepage anytime by just clicking on the "Medicare.gov" graphic in the upper -left corner.  Also, near the bottom of the page is the familiar blue "Home" button that will also get you back to this starting page.

More Links to the Medicare.gov Plan Finder

We often direct people to the Medicare.gov homepage so that they can use the Medicare Plan Finder to help them find the most affordable Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan coverage and the Plan Finder can now be found anywhere that you see "Find health & drug plans".

(For those who are interested, we actually have a Medicare.gov Plan Finder Tutorial online to help you get an overview of this comprehensive tool: Q1Medicare.com/Tutorial.php.)

The previous version of the Medicare.gov homepage had a generous assortment of links to the Plan Finder and the new Medicare.gov site navigation actually adds a number of new links where people can find their way to the Plan Finder as shown in the Medicare.gov screen shot or graphic.

For instance, the "Find a health & drug plan" link can be found:
•  In the drop-down menu of the first navigation category of Sign Up / Change Plans;
•  In the drop-down menu of the fourth navigation category of Help & Resources;
•  In the drop-down menu of the eight navigation category of Drug Coverage (Part D);
•  On the left-side of the page marked in yellow with the magnifying lens graphic;
•  On the left-side of the page under the category of "Find doctors, providers, hospitals, & plans";
•  On the right-side of the page marked in dark blue with the star graphic and titled "Explore Medicare health plans"; and
•  On the bottom of the page under the Take Action section.

As a point of reference, here is an older version of the Medicare.gov homepage showing links to the Plan Finder (pre-2010):