Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage Member Satisfaction Fell for a Second Straight Year, JD Power Finds

A survey of more than 14,000 enrollees released August 18 shows overall plan satisfaction at 611 out of 1,000 points, down 41 points in two years, with trust and perceived value recording the steepest declines.

By the Goodsurance editorial teamAugust 29, 2026

JD Power released its 2026 U.S. Medicare Advantage Study on August 18, 2026, showing that overall member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans fell to 611 on a 1,000-point scale. That is a 12-point drop from 2025 and a cumulative 41-point decline since 2024. The study drew responses from 14,559 Medicare Advantage enrollees across 12 major U.S. market regions between January and June of 2026.

The sharpest two-year declines came in three measured dimensions. The area labeled 'Helping to Save Me Time and Money' fell 51 points. 'Level of Trust' fell 49 points. And 'Product/Coverage Offerings Meet My Needs' fell 47 points. Fewer than half of respondents, 43 percent, strongly agreed that their plan was a trusted partner in their health and wellness.

Medicare Advantage member satisfaction hit a two-year low in 2026. Only 43 percent of enrollees say they truly trust their plan.

JD Power attributed part of the erosion to rising financial pressures and narrower provider networks. Survey participants said they want their plans to take a more active role in patient advocacy, including helping navigate prior authorization and coordinating care across providers.

The findings arrive roughly seven weeks before the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period opens on October 15. Beneficiaries who are unsatisfied with their current plan may compare options during that window, which runs through December 7, 2026.

In plain words

JD Power surveys thousands of Medicare Advantage members each year to see how happy they are with their plans. This year, scores fell for the second year in a row. The average score was 611 out of 1,000. Two years ago it was 652. Fewer than half of members said they truly trust their plan. People said the biggest problems were saving money, getting the coverage they need, and feeling like the plan was on their side. More than 14,000 members in 12 states took part in the survey from January to June 2026. The window to switch plans opens October 15.

Understand the basics first

Source: JD Power via BusinessWire
Read at the source →

More news

Other stories on what is moving in Medicare.

Medicare Advantage

Federal Auditors Found Medicare May Have Overpaid Medicare Advantage Plans 462 Million Dollars for Stroke Diagnoses That Lacked Hospital Records

An OIG audit of 2021 claims found that acute stroke diagnosis codes appearing on physician records across a sample of Medicare Advantage enrollees had no corresponding hospital record, a pattern auditors say inflated risk scores and generated large overpayments.

September 3, 2026

Medicare Advantage

KFF: Federal Spending on Medicare Advantage Quality Bonuses Rose to $13.4 Billion in 2026 While the Share of Enrollees in Qualifying Plans Hit Its Lowest Level Since 2018

Medicare's bonus program for high-rated private plans paid out more money than ever in 2026, but a smaller share of enrollees are in plans earning those ratings, according to a KFF analysis updated in August.

September 2, 2026

Medicare Advantage

Medicare's Congressional Advisor Estimates Medicare Advantage Cost the Government 14 Percent More Per Enrollee Than Traditional Medicare in 2026

A Medicare Rights Center analysis published August 27 draws on a MedPAC estimate and a Congressional Budget Office literature review to argue that evidence of a systematic Medicare Advantage payment gap is accumulating, even as the program's share of total Medicare enrollment grows.

September 1, 2026

Medicare Advantage

When Medicare Advantage Patients Appealed Nursing Home Denials, Plans Reversed the Decision 95 Percent of the Time

A federal watchdog reviewed prior authorization denials for skilled nursing facility admission across 19 Medicare Advantage insurers and found most initial denials were overturned. The concern: only about one in six denied patients ever appealed.

August 25, 2026

Medicare Advantage

CMS Says Medicare Advantage Plans Cannot Hide Required Prior Authorization Data Behind a Password

New CMS guidance makes clear that Medicare Advantage insurers must present mandatory prior authorization statistics in formats that patients and providers can easily find and read, not buried or locked behind a login screen.

August 22, 2026

Medicare Advantage

When a Medicare Advantage Hospital Goes Out of Network Mid-Year, Federal Rules Offer Little Automatic Relief

As hospital systems continue dropping Medicare Advantage contracts in 2026, the absence of a guaranteed plan-switch window and the limited reach of continuity-of-care rules are receiving increased scrutiny from researchers and consumer advocates.

August 19, 2026