Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage Crosses 55 Percent of Medicare Enrollment for the First Time

A KFF analysis of February 2026 data finds more than 35 million people now choose a private Medicare plan, with special needs plans driving 83 percent of recent growth.

By the Goodsurance editorial teamJuly 8, 2026

As of February 2026, more than 35 million people were enrolled in Medicare Advantage, representing over 55 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries, according to a KFF enrollment analysis published in July 2026. That is an increase of about 1.1 million enrollees, roughly 3 percent, compared with February 2025.

Special needs plans, which serve people with chronic conditions, low incomes, or institutional care needs, drove 83 percent of all Medicare Advantage enrollment growth over the past year. More than 8 million people are now enrolled in special needs plans, up nearly 900,000 from 2025.

More than half of all people on Medicare now choose a private plan. KFF says that is a first.

Market concentration remains high. UnitedHealth Group and Humana together account for 46 percent of all Medicare Advantage enrollees. CVS Health holds 12 percent, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan 6 percent, and Elevance Health 5 percent.

Despite growing enrollment, plan availability declined. The average beneficiary could choose from 32 Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans in 2026, down from 34 in 2025, as the total number of plans offered nationwide fell roughly 9 percent.

In plain words

For the first time, more than half of all people on Medicare have a Medicare Advantage plan. In February 2026, about 35 million people were signed up. That is around 1.1 million more than the year before. Most new sign-ups were in special needs plans, which serve people with serious health conditions or low incomes. By early 2026, 8 million people were in those plans. The two biggest companies, UnitedHealth Group and Humana, together cover about 46 out of every 100 people in Medicare Advantage. Even with more people joining, there were fewer plans to choose from in 2026 than in 2025.

Understand the basics first

Source: KFF
Read at the source →

More news

Other stories on what is moving in Medicare.

Medicare Advantage

Federal Watchdog Found the Three Largest Medicare Advantage Plans Denied Long-Term Hospital and Rehab Admissions at the Highest Rates

An OIG data brief from June 2026 found those plans also used outside contractors to issue denials, and many of those contractor decisions were later reversed by the plan itself on appeal.

September 22, 2026

Medicare Advantage

Federal Watchdog Will Examine How Medicare Advantage Plans Require Prior Authorization for Doctor-Administered Drugs

The Office of Inspector General added an evaluation of Medicare Advantage prior authorization for Part B drugs to its work plan, a category covering infused and injected treatments given in physician offices.

September 17, 2026

Medicare Advantage

About Half of the Performance Thresholds Used to Score Medicare Advantage Plans for 2027 Star Ratings Have Risen, Preliminary Data Shows

CMS shared a second round of preliminary 2027 star rating data with Medicare Advantage plans this month, and roughly half of the scoring thresholds are harder to meet than in prior years. Official star ratings are due in early October, just before open enrollment begins October 15.

September 12, 2026

Medicare Advantage

KFF: Medicare Advantage Plans Deny Post-Acute Care Prior Authorization Requests at Rates Far Above the Overall Average

New KFF analysis of mandatory public data found that denial rates for nursing facility, home health, and rehabilitation requests in Medicare Advantage significantly exceed the program-wide average.

September 10, 2026

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage Enrollment Tops 55 Percent in 2026, but the Two Largest Insurers Are Cutting Their County Presence

A KFF analysis finds 35.2 million Medicare beneficiaries are now in Medicare Advantage, up 1.1 million since early 2025, while UnitedHealthcare and Humana each exit roughly 200 counties.

September 8, 2026

Medicare Advantage

Special Needs Plans Now Enroll Nearly 1 in 4 Medicare Advantage Members, KFF Reports

A KFF analysis of 2026 Medicare Advantage enrollment finds that plans tailored to people with chronic illnesses or limited incomes have grown sharply and now represent nearly one quarter of all Medicare Advantage membership.

September 7, 2026