Medicare Advantage (MA) is still growing — but the pace and pattern have changed.
The 2026 Medicare Advantage Competitive Enrollment Report shows enrollment rose 2.5 percent, reaching 35.4 million beneficiaries, or 51 percent of all Medicare enrollees. That growth is down from 3.6 percent last year and well below the 7 to 10 percent annual increases seen earlier in the decade.
At the same time, traditional Medicare added 600,000 beneficiaries, and standalone prescription drug plan enrollment grew by 1.7 million. MA is no longer expanding primarily at the expense of fee-for-service Medicare.
Growth is increasingly concentrated. A small number of carriers — most notably Humana — captured the majority of gains as other national plans reduced footprint or exited markets. Special Needs Plans (SNPs) continue to drive expansion, with enrollment up 12.2 percent, including a 49 percent surge in Chronic Condition SNPs. Plan offerings declined for the third straight year, and nearly 70 percent of plan leaders expect benefits to become less generous in 2027.
Ohio is considered a low-growth but high-penetration Medicare Advantage state, and saw a 1% increase in Medicare Advantage enrollment.
Read the full 2026 Medicare Advantage competitive enrollment report from HealthScape Advisors.