A Look at Plans, Premiums, and Benefits Ahead of the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

For 2026, the average beneficiary can choose from 32 Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage  

View in browser NEW & NOTEWORTHY KFF Examines Medicare Advantage Plans, Premiums and Benefits Ahead of the Open Enrollment Period for Beneficiaries Already Enrolled in Medicare Advantage  Two new KFF analyses provide the latest data and analysis about trends in Medicare Advantage, the private plan alternative to traditional Medicare that has taken on an increasingly prominent role in the Medicare program over the last decade.      One analysis provides an overview of the Medicare Advantage plans that are available for 2026, while the other looks at premiums and benefits associated with those plans. Both document trends over time. In 2025, more than 34 million Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan – more than half, or 54%, of the eligible Medicare population.     While the general Medicare open enrollment period runs from October 15-December 7, less talked about is the open enrollment period specifically for people already in Medicare Advantage plans that runs from January 1 to March 31 each year. During this period, people can switch Medicare Advantage plans or drop their plan and switch to traditional Medicare and enroll in a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.     Key findings from the two new analyses include:     Plan Offerings:  For 2026, the average beneficiary can choose from 32 Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage offered by eight firms. The two largest Medicare Advantage insurers, UnitedHealthcare and Humana, are each offering plans in about 80% of U.S. counties in 2026, down from nearly 90% this year.  About 2.6 million people are in a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage that has been terminated for 2026.   Plan Premiums and Benefits:  Two-thirds of Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage don't require enrollees to pay a supplemental premium beyond the standard Part B premium.  Virtually all plans offer supplemental benefits such as vision, dental, and hearing benefits. Fewer plans offer over-the-counter benefits (66%) or a meal benefit (57%) and about a quarter (24%) offer transportation. Less than 10% offer in-home care or caregiver support. Nearly one-third (32%) of plans will use rebates to offer enrollees some reduction in the Part B premium in 2026. Among plans offering a reduction in the Part B premium, more than a third (36%) are offering a reduction of more than $100 a month, while 28% of plans are offering a reduction of $10 or less per month. CONTACT:   Chris Lee | 202.654.1403 | ChrisL@kff.org    When citing our work, please note our name is KFF, which is our legal operating name. We should be cited as KFF, a nonprofit health policy research, polling, and news organization. We no longer use the name Kaiser Family Foundation.  Did someone forward this to you? Sign up for emails from KFF. This email was sent to albarkahslamet.ssss@blogger.com. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Or, permanently unsubscribe from all future emails. Need assistance? Email subscriptions@kff.org; do not reply to this email. The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news. KFF, 185 Berry Street, Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA 94107