How Seniors' Medicare Advantage Benefits Are Changing: What to Know
While core benefits remain widely available, a growing number of plans are reducing or eliminating supplemental perks.
Millions of older Americans have enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, with many already experiencing a reduction in popular extra benefits, as insurers struggle with higher medical costs and reduced federal payments. While core benefits remain, supplemental perks such as over-the-counter allowances, meal benefits, transportation assistance, and fitness programs are being cut or eliminated.
Experts attribute this to insurers' efforts to maintain profitability in the face of shrinking payments. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) declined to comment, but financial experts say these cuts are likely to continue and become more severe in 2027. Despite these changes, most plans continue to offer essential benefits like dental, vision, and hearing care.
Beneficiaries should be aware that perks that once provided significant savings may now be less valuable, as insurers prioritize maintaining low premiums and core coverage.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
