Seniors have embraced Medicare Advantage plans for their free or deeply discounted perks like eyeglasses, dental coverage, gym memberships, and reimbursements for — no kidding — golf clubs and pickleball paddles.
While those plan perks are fun to imagine using, most people never touch them.
“Medicare Advantage enrollees often don’t know what supplemental benefits are offered by their plans or how to use them,” Gretchen Jacobson, vice president for Medicare at the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit research foundation, told Yahoo Finance.
“Most Medicare Advantage enrollees say they would like to receive notifications about unused benefits,” she added.
Eight out of 10 consider these benefits an important part of their plans, according to a new study by the Commonwealth Fund. However, 3 out of 10 beneficiaries reported that they did not use any supplementary benefit in the previous year.
Less than half took advantage of dental, vision, gym, or over-the-counter drug benefits, and less than 1 in 10 used benefits such as hearing aids, grocery allowance, or food delivery.
About 34.4 million people are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, which accounts for about 54% of all eligible Medicare beneficiaries, up from 32% a decade ago, according to KFF, a health research nonprofit.
The alternative health insurance program to traditional Medicare for those 65 and older consists of plans run by private insurance companies, such as UnitedHealthcare and Humana, and these have grown in popularity in recent years.
A big part of the attraction is all the sparkly extras that almost all of these plans offer that are not included in traditional Medicare, which is administered by the federal government.
To offer these goodies, Medicare Advantage insurers are paid by the federal government to provide the majority of these discounts for about $86 billion this year, according to a 2025 report by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), which advises Congress on Medicare policy. This is up from $21 billion in 2018.
One reason these benefits are not being enjoyed is that enrollees say they don’t need them. Another concern, however, is that about a quarter of those surveyed said they either don’t know all the benefits their plan offers or don’t know how to use them, Jacobson said.
“Because of the extensive federal funding that is provided for these benefits, it is important for both Medicare beneficiaries and the federal government that Medicare Advantage enrollees know what their plan has to offer and how they can use it,” she said. “Our survey found that notifications could be an important step in this direction.”
That almost happened. A new mandate has been put forward that will start next year to address this issue. In September, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services notified Medicare Advantage insurers that they will not be required to remind members about unused supplemental benefits for now.
Those notifications, however, would only be one piece of the puzzle. Even those who know about their benefits find them difficult to use.
Seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans report that it is difficult to take advantage of the benefits, Commonwealth researchers have found. This is because the benefits are not convenient, or in the case of, say, membership in the SilverSneakers fitness program, they could not find a local gym or fitness center near their homes that offered it. For other free services, members said there was no provider or network vendor in their city that provided the discount.
Medicare fall enrollment ends on December 7th, and if you haven’t reviewed your 2026 coverage, time is almost up.
Learn more: Open enrollment in Medicare: How to adjust or increase coverage
For 2026, experts say some Medicare Advantage plans are reducing their dental and vision coverage and raising copays to see 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 membership, should be considered, but only after ensuring that the plan provides affordable medical coverage and access to the doctors, hospitals, and medications that the person needs,” Louise Norris, health policy analyst for MedicareResources.org, previously told Yahoo Finance.
For the next few days, those who are registered can make modifications to their coverage, which will take effect on January 1st. You can switch between original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Medicare Advantage plans, and add or switch your Part D prescription drug plan. And possibly add or change a new Medigap policy.
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Here are resources to help you sort through plan offerings for the coming year:
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The online Medicare Plan Finder on the Medicare.gov site allows you to review Medicare Advantage plan options. However, registrants should call their preferred health providers to confirm that they will be authorized to treat you next year. Also, before signing up, call health insurers to confirm the details of any 2026 plan.
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The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) network provides one-on-one counseling 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 to enroll directly.
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The National Council on Aging has a toll-free helpline (800-794-6559) to help you navigate your plan comparison.
Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including “Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future,” “In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work,” and “Never Too Old to Get Rich.” Follow her on Bluesky.
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