Seniors have embraced Medicare Advantage plans for their free or deeply discounted benefits, such as eyeglasses, dental coverage, gym memberships, and rebates on—I kid you not—golf clubs and pickleball paddles.
While it’s a pleasure to imagine using those plan benefits, many people never touch them.
“Medicare Advantage enrollees often don’t know what supplemental benefits their plans offer or how to use them,” Gretchen Jacobson, vice president of Medicare at Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit research foundation, told Yahoo Finance.
“Most Medicare Advantage enrollees say they would like to receive notifications about unused benefits,” he added.
Eight in 10 consider these benefits an important part of their plans, according to a new Commonwealth Fund study. However, 3 in 10 beneficiaries reported not using any supplemental benefits during the previous year.
Less than half took advantage of dental benefits, vision benefits, gym memberships, or subsidies for over-the-counter medications, and fewer than 1 in 10 used benefits such as hearing aids, grocery subsidies, or meal delivery.
About 34.4 million people are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, representing about 54% of all eligible Medicare beneficiaries, up from 32% a decade ago, according to KFF, a nonprofit health research organization.
The alternative health insurance program to traditional Medicare for people 65 and older consists of plans administered by private insurance companies, such as UnitedHealthcare and Humana, and their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years.
A big part of the appeal is all the shiny extras that virtually all of these plans offer that aren’t included in traditional Medicare, which is administered by the federal government.
To offer these benefits, the federal government pays Medicare Advantage insurers to provide the majority of these rebates to the tune of about $86 billion this year, according to a 2025 report from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), which advises Congress on Medicare policy. That’s up from $21 billion in 2018.
One of the reasons these benefits are not enjoyed is that members say they don’t really need them. Another worrying factor, however, is that about a quarter of respondents said they don’t know all the benefits their plan offers or don’t know how to use them, Jacobson said.
“Given the extensive federal funding provided for these benefits, it is important to both Medicare beneficiaries and the federal government that Medicare Advantage enrollees know what their plan has to offer and how they can use it,” he said. “Our survey found that notifications could be an important step in this direction.”
That almost happened. A new mandate that will come into force next year has been introduced to address this issue. In September, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services notified Medicare Advantage insurers that for now they will not be required to remind members about unused supplemental benefits.
However, those notifications would have been only one piece of the puzzle. Even those who know their benefits find them complicated to use.
Commonwealth researchers found that seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans reported that it is difficult to take advantage of the benefits. This is because the benefits are not convenient or, in the case of, say, a SilverSneakers fitness program membership, they couldn’t find a local gym or fitness center near their homes that offered it. For other free services, members said there were no in-network providers or vendors in their city offering refunds.
Medicare fall enrollment ends on December 7, and if you haven’t reviewed your coverage for 2026, time is almost running out.
More information: Medicare Open Enrollment: How to Adjust or Add Coverage
By 2026, experts say some Medicare Advantage plans are cutting their dental and vision coverage and increasing copays for seeing specialists. So if you signed up for a gym membership through a Medicare Advantage plan, it may not be available next year.
“Supplemental benefits such as dental, vision, and gym memberships should be considered, but only after ensuring that the plan will provide affordable health coverage and access to the doctors, hospitals, and medications the person needs,” Louise Norris, a health policy analyst at MedicareResources.org, previously told Yahoo Finance.
Over the next few days, those who are enrolled will be able to make changes to their coverage, which will go into effect on January 1. You can switch between original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Medicare Advantage plans, and add or change your Part D prescription drug plan. And possibly add or change to a new Medigap policy.
Do you have any questions about retirement? Personal finances? Anything career related? Click here to send Kerry Hannon a note.
Here are resources to help you sort through next year’s plan offerings:
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The Medicare Online Plan Finder on the Medicare.gov site allows you to review Medicare Advantage plan options. However, members should call their preferred health care providers to confirm that they will be authorized to treat you next year. Also, before signing up, call health insurers to confirm details of any 2026 plans.
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The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) network provides personalized advice in each state. You can find your local SHIP here.
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The Medicare Rights Center offers a toll-free consumer help line: 800-333-4114. You can also contact Medicare directly at 800-633-4227 to find Medicare Advantage and Part D plans in your area and enroll directly.
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The National Council on Aging has a toll-free help line (800-794-6559) to help you compare your plans.
kerry Hannon is a senior columnist for Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including “Retirement Bites: A Generation X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future,” “In control at 50+: how to succeed in the new world of work,” and “You’re never too old to get rich.” Follow her on blue sky.
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