Medicare Advantage 2026 Spotlight: A First Look at Plan Premiums and Benefits
Article Publication Date
Summary
This brief provides an overview of premiums and benefits in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans available for 2026, as well as key trends over time. This brief uses data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Landscape and Benefit files. In general, this brief refers to individual Medicare plans available for general enrollment, excluding Special Needs Plans (SNPs) unless noted, and employer plans. A companion analysis describes trends in MA plan offerings.
Highlights from the brief include:
• Two-thirds of all MA plans with Part D prescription drug coverage (67%) will charge no premium (other than the Medicare Part B premium) in 2026, the same as 2025.
• Most individual Medicare Advantage plans offer vision, dental and hearing benefits, as they have in previous years; however, the share offering certain other supplemental benefits has declined from 2025, such as an allowance for over-the-counter items, a meal benefit, remote access technologies, and transportation.
• A larger share of Special Needs Plans (SNPs) than other Medicare Advantage plans are offering Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill, which are extra benefits available to a subset of a plan’s enrollees, particularly food and produce, and general supports for living, such as housing and utilities.
Highlights from the brief include:
• Two-thirds of all MA plans with Part D prescription drug coverage (67%) will charge no premium (other than the Medicare Part B premium) in 2026, the same as 2025.
• Most individual Medicare Advantage plans offer vision, dental and hearing benefits, as they have in previous years; however, the share offering certain other supplemental benefits has declined from 2025, such as an allowance for over-the-counter items, a meal benefit, remote access technologies, and transportation.
• A larger share of Special Needs Plans (SNPs) than other Medicare Advantage plans are offering Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill, which are extra benefits available to a subset of a plan’s enrollees, particularly food and produce, and general supports for living, such as housing and utilities.