Goodsurance

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

GAO Report Flags 23.7 Billion Dollars in Medicare Advantage Improper Payments and Calls for Stronger Fraud Controls

The Government Accountability Office found that Medicare Advantage improper payments hit an estimated 23.7 billion dollars in fiscal year 2025, representing about 6.1 percent of the program's outlays, while CMS has yet to complete a comprehensive fraud risk assessment.

October 18, 2026

Medicare Advantage

KFF: Nearly Three-Quarters of Medicare Advantage Enrollees Have a Condition That Could Block a Medigap Policy

A KFF analysis published the day before open enrollment opens finds that most people in Medicare Advantage plans carry diagnoses that Medigap insurers can use to deny or reprice coverage if those enrollees try to return to Original Medicare.

October 14, 2026

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage Plans Reversed Nearly All Skilled Nursing Facility Denials on Appeal, OIG Finds

A federal audit of 19 Medicare Advantage organizations found they overturned 95 percent of denied prior authorization requests for skilled nursing facility stays when enrollees appealed, raising questions about the accuracy of initial decisions.

October 11, 2026

Medicare Advantage

MedPAC Analysis Finds Medicare Advantage Provider Directories May Overstate Physician Network Participation

A new presentation to Congress's Medicare advisory body compared plan directories to actual encounter records and found meaningful gaps, raising concerns just as open enrollment opens October 15.

October 10, 2026

Medicare Advantage

CMS Releases Official 2027 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings on Medicare Plan Finder

Scores are now searchable on medicare.gov one week before the October 15 open enrollment start. Fewer plans earned four stars or higher compared with 2026.

October 9, 2026

Medicare Advantage

Federal Appeals Court Judges Question Government's Defense of Medicare Advantage Audit Rule

A Fifth Circuit panel heard oral arguments Monday in Humana's lawsuit over a 2023 CMS rule that changed how Medicare recovers overpayments from Medicare Advantage plans, with judges appearing unreceptive to the administration's position.

October 6, 2026