With passage of the new Medicare law, beneficiaries will increasingly be expected to choose from among a number of private health plan options with varying benefits and features. For many seniors, the options are confusing and, for some, overwhelming. Researchers at Georgetown University will develop two models of standardized benefits—one for Medicare Advantage plans and one for standalone prescription drug plans—to stimulate debate about the need for standardization in Medicare and the form standardized benefits should take. Project staff will conduct a literature review, interview a range of experts, convene panels to design a set of standard benefits, and hold focus groups with beneficiaries and health insurance counselors to help assess the potential impact of proposed options. This work will improve understanding of what choice in Medicare currently entails for beneficiaries, and how standardized benefit options might simplify their health plan decisions. http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/