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President Donald Trump wants a chatbot to help you pick your Medicare plan.
On Sept. 29, he launched America.gov, an AI-powered hub for federal services.
“Whether you’re a scout leader who wants to reserve a campsite at a national park, a senior citizen trying to choose a Medicare plan, or an American veteran trying to get the benefits that you’ve earned and so justly deserve, America.gov will be there to help,” he said. (1)
He added, “Anyone who has used Grok or Gemini or ChatGPT will understand instantly how to use America.gov.” (1)
Here’s the fine print. The White House says Medicare enrollment on the site is coming “later this year.” (2) Axios reports that form-filling won’t arrive until early 2027, and that users “may still need to verify important information against the government sources it cites.” (3)
Meanwhile, Medicare open enrollment runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. (4) And according to KFF, 69% of beneficiaries didn’t compare their coverage with other options during a recent enrollment period. (5)
I’ve been a CPA since 1981, and I’ve been writing about Medicare’s math for more than 35 years. A simpler government website is overdue, and I’ll give the administration credit for trying.
But this fall, there are six things a chatbot can’t do for you.
1. It can’t enroll you this season
Right now, America.gov answers questions and points you to other government sites. It doesn’t sign you up for anything. (3)
That matters because the deadline doesn’t move. To change plans for 2027, your new plan must get your request by Dec. 7. Coverage then starts Jan. 1. (4)
If you wait for the chatbot to grow up, you could miss the window and be stuck with your current plan for another year.
2. It doesn’t know your pills or your doctors
Every September, your plan mails an Annual Notice of Change. Medicare says it lists changes in coverage and costs that take effect in January, and it tells you to decide whether the plan will still meet your needs. (6)
That’s where the real money is. A plan that covered your prescriptions cheaply this year can cost you far more next year.
Medicare’s own Plan Finder at Medicare.gov lets you enter your actual drugs and pharmacy and compare plans side by side. A general AI answer can’t do that for you unless you give it the same details, and then you’d still need to double-check it.
3. It can be wrong, and sound sure of itself
Axios reports America.gov runs on Grok and Gemini. (3)
In an audit published in BMJ Open this year, researchers tested five popular chatbots on health questions. Half of the answers were problematic, and 58% of Grok’s answers were rated highly problematic. (7) Those were medical questions, not Medicare questions, so don’t read too much into the exact number.
To be fair, Newsweek tested America.gov on a Medicare eligibility question and got the right answer. (8) Use it to learn the vocabulary. Don’t use it to make a decision worth thousands of dollars.
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4. It won’t stop the scammers who’ll copy it
Every open enrollment brings a wave of fake Medicare callers. The Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers impersonate Medicare and ask for your Medicare, bank or credit card number. (9)
The FTC’s rule of thumb: real Medicare cards are free and mailed automatically, and real Medicare reps won’t call, text or email you out of the blue. When in doubt, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE. (9)
My prediction: a brand-new government website is an open invitation for crooks to send “America.gov” texts and emails. Reported fraud losses among people 60 and older climbed from about $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024. (10)
One inexpensive layer of protection: AARP membership includes the AARP Fraud Watch Network, plus discounts on travel, dining, eyeglasses and prescriptions. It’s as low as $15 for your first year with auto-renewal.
5. It won’t warn you about what Medicare doesn’t cover
Picking the right plan is only half the job. The other half is knowing where Medicare stops.
Part B alone costs $202.90 a month in 2026, with a $283 deductible. (11) And Medicare doesn’t cover custodial care, the day-to-day help with bathing and dressing that many of us will need eventually.
According to government data, about 7 in 10 people turning 65 will need some form of long-term care.
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6. It’s no substitute for a human who owes you nothing
Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP. It offers one-on-one Medicare counseling from what it calls a “trusted, unbiased source.” (12) Find yours at shiphelp.org.
Medicare decisions also ripple into your taxes, your withdrawals and your Social Security timing. If you want someone looking at the whole picture, consider a fiduciary advisor.
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The bottom line
I’m not against using technology to make government less miserable. Americans spend around 10 billion hours a year on federal paperwork, according to the White House. (2) If America.gov chips away at that, great.
But your Medicare plan choice is too personal for a general-purpose chatbot, especially one that can’t enroll you yet.
Pull out your Annual Notice of Change. Make a list of your drugs and doctors. Compare plans on Medicare.gov before Dec. 7, and call your SHIP if you get stuck.
Use the chatbot to ask the questions. Use your own eyes to check the answers.
Sources: 1. Fox News; 2. The White House; 3. Axios; 4. Medicare.gov; 5. KFF; 6. Medicare.gov; 7. BMJ Group; 8. Newsweek; 9. Federal Trade Commission; 10. Federal Trade Commission; 11. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; 12. SHIP National Technical Assistance Center
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