Medicare Advantage Drug Plans 2026: Options & Choices
- * Open Enrollment: Medicare's annual open enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7.
Here are the relevant facts from the provided text:
* Open Enrollment: Medicare’s annual open enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7.
* Plan Changes: Medicare Advantage insurers are scaling back their offerings due to changes in federal payments and rising healthcare costs/falling profits.
* MA-PD Plans (wiht drug coverage):
* There will be 32 MA-PD plans available in 2026, down from 34 in 2025.
* This is a decline from a peak of 36 options in 2024,but still higher than in 2022 (31) and prior years.
* Total Medicare Advantage Plans: The average beneficiary will have 39 plan options in 2026,compared to 42 in 2025. This is still higher than 2022 (38) and previous years.
* State Variations:
* In 35 states, DC, and Puerto Rico, beneficiaries will have fewer plan options in 2026 than in 2025.
* New Hampshire and minnesota experienced the largest drops (13 and 11 fewer plans, respectively).
* UCare exited the Minnesota market entirely, while UnitedHealthcare and Humana reduced offerings.
* 6 states (AL, HI, KS, MO, UT, and WV) will have more plan options in 2026.
* 8 states will have the same number of plans.
* Alaska continues to have no plans available for general enrollment.
* plan Coverage: medicare Advantage plans are required to cover Part A and part B benefits, but Part D (prescription drug) coverage is optional and may require a separate premium. Most enrollees are in plans with Part D coverage.