Medicare Advantage 2026: Premiums & Benefits Preview
Okay, here’s a breakdown of the key facts from the provided text, focusing on what benefits Medicare Advantage plans (both individual plans and Special Needs Plans – SNPs) do not offer, or are declining too offer:
1. Part B Rebates:
* Generally Less Common: A smaller percentage of SNPs (19%) offer a Part B rebate compared to individual plans (32%).
* Declining Trend: The number of SNPs offering Part B rebates is decreasing – down from 28% in 2025 to 19% in 2026.
* Rebate Destination: for dual-eligible individuals in Medicare Savings Programs, the rebate goes to the state Medicaid program, not the individual.
2. Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI):
* Majority Do Not Offer: Most individual Medicare Advantage plans still do not offer these extra, non-health related benefits for chronically ill enrollees.
* SNPs are More Likely, but Still Not Worldwide: while SNPs are more likely to offer SSBCI benefits than individual plans, a meaningful portion still do not. Here’s a breakdown of what percentage of SNPs do offer specific SSBCI benefits:
* Food and Produce: 85%
* General Supports for Living (housing, utilities): 72%
* Transportation (non-medical): 37%
* Pest Control: 23%
3. Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model:
* No Longer Available: A previous program allowing plans to offer benefits based on socioeconomic status (VBID) has been terminated after the 2025 plan year.This means those benefits are no longer being offered through that specific model.
In essence, the text highlights that while some plans (especially SNPs) are expanding certain supplemental benefits, a large majority of plans, particularly individual plans, still do not offer these extra benefits, and some previously available options (like those through the VBID model) are being discontinued.