January 8, 2026
ARC’s analysis of the 2026 Medicare Advantage landscape finds that the market remains stable and well-funded, even as insurers claim that recent payment changes amount to major funding cuts. The number of Medicare Advantage plan options and the generosity of benefits remain near all-time highs.
For the average beneficiary, 39 Medicare Advantage plans are available in 2026, most of which charge $0 premiums. This represents a 175% increase in $0-premium plan availability compared with 2019. Benefit levels likewise remain at or near historic highs, with especially strong offerings among Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs).
These findings stand in contrast to a growing narrative promoted by health plans and amplified in several major media outlets suggesting that Medicare Advantage funding has been dramatically reduced. While ARC does find that the growth rate of plan options and benefit levels has moderated somewhat, this moderation is occurring within the context of a market that remains well funded and highly competitive.
Building on ARC’s analysis and additional research documenting persistent overpayments in Medicare Advantage, Arnold Ventures concludes that the Medicare Advantage market is healthy and capable of absorbing needed payment changes without undermining beneficiary access or benefits.
Read ARC’s full research brief here.
Read Arnold Ventures’ summary of ARC’s findings and related research here.