Glitch In Medicare Drug Plan Finder Could Cost Consumers

WASHINGTON (AP) - A glitch in Medicare's revamped prescription plan finder can steer unwitting seniors to coverage that costs much more than they need to pay.

People who help with sign-ups and program experts say it can be confusing - and costly - if consumers aren't careful.

Serving some 60 million Medicare recipients, the plan finder is the most commonly used tool on Medicare.gov and just got its first major update in a decade.

The online system automatically displays the plan with the lowest premium.

But because of out-of-pocket costs like copays, that's not necessarily the least expensive plan. The difference can amount to hundreds of dollars.

Medicare says it chose to display the premium prominently because it's a number that consumers understand.

Sign-up season for Medicare prescription drug plans ends Dec. 7.

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