By Marc Gilman
Questions?
Call (800) 927-9326 or email
Key Takeaways
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Loyalty has been slipping. A national survey of about 2,700 Medicare beneficiaries by Deft Research found that the share of Medicare Advantage (MA) members who were “loyal” to their plan fell from 64% in June 2022 to 53% in June 2025.
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More members are thinking about leaving. The share at risk of switching rose from 12% to 21% over the same period.
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Plan changes drive the reconsideration. Plans have cut supplemental benefits and ended some plan options, and members who see a plan change are more likely to shop.
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Your plan can change every year. The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2026, and changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
What Did the Research Find?
Deft Research, a Medicare market research firm, publishes an annual “gut check” survey of Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Original Medicare-only beneficiaries. Its 2025 report focused on how people felt about their coverage ahead of that fall’s enrollment season.
Among Medicare Advantage members, the “loyal” group (those rating their likelihood to stay at 9 or 10 out of 10) shrank every year since 2022:
The researchers also found that the share of members at risk of switching each June has tracked within a couple of points of the share who actually changed plans that fall. According to the report, about 16% of MA members voluntarily switched during the 2025 plan-year AEP, up from 12% the year before and 11% the year before that. In addition, about 8% of members were in plans that were discontinued for 2025, compared with 1% to 2% in a typical year.
These are survey results from 2025, not a forecast for this year. Enrollment patterns can change from year to year.
Why Are Members Reconsidering?
The report points to a few causes. After several years of generous payments to insurers, many Medicare Advantage plans added rich extras such as dental, vision, over-the-counter allowances and low or no deductibles. Those extras have proved costly to sustain. Many plans have since trimmed benefits, raised costs or exited certain counties, and some members have been moved out of plans that ended altogether.
When a plan changes, your doctors, your prescriptions and your out-of-pocket costs may change with it. That is why reviewing the changes each year matters, even when you have been happy with the plan.
How Can I Tell Whether to Stay or Switch?
You do not need to switch just because others are. You do need to look. A short review can answer most of the question:
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Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Your plan must send it by Sept. 30. It lists changes to premiums, deductibles, copays, the drug list and the provider network.
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Check your doctors and prescriptions. Confirm that your doctors and hospitals are still in network and your medications are still covered, and see which pharmacies are preferred.
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Compare total costs, not just the premium. Add premium, deductible, copays, and the plan’s annual out-of-pocket maximum. Part D drug costs also matter.
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Check whether your plan is being discontinued or changed significantly. If so, you’ll want to review your options early.
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Decide by Dec. 7.* Changes made during AEP start Jan. 1, 2027.
*Some 2027 Medicare Advantage plans can set enrollment caps and may close to new members before Dec. 7, so starting early helps.
What If I Miss the Deadline?
If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 to Mar. 31) lets you make one change, but it is more limited than AEP. Some people also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, such as when moving or when your plan leaves the area. Eligibility rules apply, so ask before you assume you qualify.
Where Does Insurance Planning Fit In?
A plan that worked well last year may not be the best fit for 2027. Looking at your doctors, medications and expected care side by side, with the plans available in your area, is the most reliable way to see where you stand. We can help you compare options and explain what each change would mean for your costs.
What To Do Next
If you have your Annual Notice of Change in hand, we’re happy to review it with you before the Dec. 7 deadline.
Questions? Call (800) 927-9326 or email
Prefer we reach out to you instead? Complete our Permission to Contact form and a licensed Gilman Agency agent will follow up.
Source: Deft Research, “MA Uprooted: How Are Consumers Responding to Continued MAPD Market Disruption?” 2025 AEP Gut Check Study, Single Insight Point (July 15, 2025). Survey of about 2,700 Medicare beneficiaries.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. This article is for general educational purposes and is not an offer of coverage. Plan benefits, networks and availability vary by plan and location and can change each year. For more information, contact Marc Gilman, licensed insurance agent, at (800) 927-9326, or call 1-800-MEDICARE for a full list of your options.
