Medicare Advantage:
High-Quality Care, Lower Costs, Better Benefits

Medicare Advantage (MA) is an immensely popular — and growing — program that provides affordable, coordinated, patient-centered care for America’s seniors and those with disabilities.

Over 35 million beneficiaries — more than half of the Medicare population — choose Medicare Advantage because it delivers lower costs, better benefits, more choices and access to higher-quality care.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is strongly committed to keeping Medicare Advantage strong and stable for the millions of Americans who depend on this essential program.

Medicare Advantage
At-a-Glance

Learn how Medicare Advantage provides high-quality, affordable, coordinated, patient-centered care.

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Senior Voices Matter

Senior voters are overwhelmingly satisfied with their coverage and believe Medicare Advantage supports their financial well-being.

of senior voters on MA are satisfied with their Medicare Advantage plan.

of senior voters on MA say the services provided by their Medicare Advantage plan help them manage their health care.

of senior voters on MA are satisfied with the benefits provided by their Medicare Advantage plan.

of senior voters on MA believe they will face a negative impact to their finances if Congress cuts funding for Medicare Advantage.

of senior voters on MA say it’s easy to find in-network doctors and hospitals that meet their needs through their MA plan.

Source: BCBSA-Morning Consult Poll among 20,011 registered voters, conducted April 1-9, 2026

Medicare advantage delivers lower costs

Medicare Advantage lowers costs for beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries save nearly $3,500 a year on their health care compared to those enrolled in original Medicare.

Beneficiaries pay an average of just $14 in monthly premiums, and 99% of Medicare eligibles live in a county with a $0 premium plan.

Nearly all beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage have access to an integrated Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan with no additional monthly premium in 2025.

Medicare Advantage caps out-of-pocket expenses.

Medicare Advantage services cost $51 less per month than original Medicare for all Medicare covered services.

Medicare Advantage Improves Care Quality

Incentivized to improve health outcomes, Medicare Advantage plans outperform original Medicare on a variety of quality measures, including preventive care and helping beneficiaries manage chronic conditions and disease management.

MA beneficiaries had:

126% lower hospital readmission rates.

Medicare Advantage has 41% less preventable hospitalizations than original Medicare.

21%

higher rate of seeing a physician within 14 days of a hospital discharge.

21%

lower rateof high-risk medication use.

Beneficiaries who develop Type 2 diabetes are diagnosed, on average, nearly 5 months earlier.

More cancer screenings —

Breast Cancer:3.4%higher

Colorectal Cancer: More than twice as likely to receive a screening.

Medicare Advantage Provides More Choices And Better Benefits

Medicare Advantage offers more plan and benefit choices, including supplemental options that provide access to personalized support and care coordination to improve individual health.

In 2026,
39 MA plans were available to the average beneficiary.

99%

of all Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have access to plans offering extra benefits beyond original Medicare.

More than 99% of all MA plans offer supplemental benefits like eye exams and/or glasses, 98% of plans offer dental care, and 95% offer hearing exams and/or hearing aids.

Medicare Advantage offers a range of supplemental benefits that improve health:

Nutrition and meal support

Transportation assistance

Wellness programs

Caregiver support

Medicare Advantage Offers More Access To Care

Medicare Advantage covers sicker and more low-income beneficiaries than original Medicare.

New Medicare beneficiaries choosing Medicare Advantage are sicker than those choosing original Medicare.

1 in 2

senior voters on MA currently have a serious or complex health condition that requires ongoing medical care.

76%

more new Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have 5 or more chronic conditions.

Medicare Advantage serves beneficiaries from all areas of the country and all income levels.

40%

of eligible Medicare beneficiaries are in rural counties.

36%

of Medicare Advantage members have annual incomes of less than $25,000.

Of all Medicare-eligible beneficiaries, Medicare Advantage is the choice of

Latinos

Black
Americans

Asian
Americans

White/Caucasian

Native Americans

Women

Men

Medicare Advantage is popular and growing

Seniors and people with disabilities continue to choose Medicare Advantage over original Medicare because it delivers better value, better access to care, and better outcomes – at lower costs.

Medicare Advantage accounts for:

54%

of the Medicare program and CBO projects growth to 64% by 2034.

90%

of all Medicare Advantage beneficiaries—regardless of age—are satisfied with their plan.