Temporary SEP for year one of the Medicare Plan Finder MA Provider Directory
For your awareness, CMS has a new Special Election Period (SEP) for 2026 – Code: DIR SEP. This SEP allows beneficiaries who enrolled directly through the Medicare Plan Finder (MPF) to make a plan change if the MPF Provider Directory included incorrect information and is only valid for 1/1/26-12/31/26 enrollments. The intent of this SEP is to allow an individual who relied on the MPF Provider Directory to make a change to their MA plan election to stay with their preferred providers.
To use this SEP, beneficiaries must call 1-800-MEDICARE to have a representative confirm that their enrollment occurred through the MPF and then process the enrollment change. Beneficiaries will be able to make a new MA (MA-only or MAPD) plan election, disenroll from their current MA plan to return to Original Medicare or make a Part D plan election or return to Original Medicare with Part D coverage. Elections will be prospective, effective on the first day of the month after the application date. This SEP is available for three months after the plan’s effective date.