CY2026 Medicare Advantage Trends in Supplemental Benefits
Trends in Supplemental Benefits for 2026
ATI experts hosted a webinar analyzing the newly released 2026 Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan Benefit Package (PBP) data to identify trends in supplemental and nonmedical benefits. The conversation, hosted by Rose Mollitor, Claire Cruse, and Jennifer Sisto Gall, revealed market stability at the top line but strategic recalibration underneath.
The 2026 filings show that core supplemental benefits, such as hearing and vision, remain steady while other commonly offered supplemental benefits and nonmedical benefits are evolving, particularly among Special Needs Plans (SNPs). This year’s data suggests that MA organizations are refining their offerings, prioritizing benefits that better align with member need and help drive engagement.
A Year of Stability with Strategic Shifts
According to Mollitor, 2026 is shaping up as a “year of top-line stability.” Most MA plans continue to offer dental, vision, and hearing coverage. Declines in commonly offered supplemental benefits such as fitness memberships and over-the-counter allowances suggest that plans are re-prioritizing limited resources.
“Plans are returning to the basics,” Mollitor explained, “refocusing on the benefits that most directly impact their members’ health and engagement.”
SNPs Drive Growth in Nonmedical Benefits
Sisto Gall noted that SNPs, particularly Chronic Condition SNPs (C-SNPs), are driving nearly all observed growth in nonmedical benefits. “Nearly every C-SNP now offers some type of nonmedical support,” she said, pointing to categories such as food and general supports for living as more common benefits offered by C-SNPs.
The proportion of General MA plans offering nonmedical benefits remain relatively flat over last year: only about one in four offer any nonmedical benefit. This widening gap underscores how SNPs are increasingly defining the frontier for benefit innovation in the MA market.
Trends in Food, Home-Focused, and Caregiver Support Benefits
The data show incremental but meaningful increases in food and produce and home-focused benefits, while nonmedical transportation declined slightly, likely due to operational complexities. “Food benefits are gaining traction because their impact is easier to measure,” Sisto Gall noted. “They connect directly to health outcomes for members managing chronic conditions.”
Caregiver and in-home support services stand out as a notable area of growth from last year, driven primarily by D-SNPs. These benefits recognize the importance of supporting caregivers and home-based care as key enablers of independence.
Flex Cards Are a Growing Tool for Benefit Delivery
Cruse spoke to flex card trends, a growing tool for delivering supplemental benefits, including nonmedical benefits. In 2026, half of all MA plans will offer flex cards for some type of benefit, with nearly one-third using flex cards to deliver nonmedical supports. This is a modest increase from 2025.
Average annual allowances for flex cards used to deliver nonmedical benefits declined slightly, from $1,430 to $1,398 per year. Cruse emphasized that “while more plans are using these cards to enhance flexibility, they’re doing so with fewer total dollars available.” Food and general supports for living (such as assistance with rent and utilities) remain the most common flex card categories, appearing on nearly all flex card offerings, while transportation continues to lag. SNPs, especially C-SNPs, continue to grow in this space.
Looking Ahead
The panel noted that market stability does not mean stasis. Plans are becoming more deliberate, allocating dollars toward benefits that can demonstrate impact and align with CMS scrutiny on value and outcomes.
“These data tell a story of maturation,” said Sisto Gall. “Plans are no longer just expanding; they’re recalibrating.”
As ATI continues to parse the data, several themes warrant close attention:
- How benefit generosity and eligibility evolve within the context of tighter margins
- The degree to which flex cards serve as sustainable vehicles for nonmedical supports
- How carriers refine SNP offerings to balance customization to member need with operational simplicity
- Early signals of how 2026 decisions may shape 2027 filings and member experience
ATI Advisory will continue to analyze these trends and share insights on how plans, policymakers, and providers can strengthen benefit strategies to improve outcomes.