Medicare Advantage Enrollment Grew by About 1 Million People, Mainly Due to Special Needs Plans

(Authors: Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Meredith Freed, Nancy Ochieng, and Tricia Neuman for The Kaiser Family Foundation Published: Feb 23, 2026)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest Medicare Advantage enrollment data on February 13, 2026. These data provide the first look into Medicare Advantage enrollment for 2026 following a statement published by CMS last fall that Medicare Advantage insurers projected total enrollment would be lower in 2026 than in 2025. The industry projections came at the same time insurers announced a drop in in the total number of Medicare Advantage plans that would be available for general enrollment (individual plans) in 2026, along with an increase the number of special needs plans (SNPs), which limit enrollment to beneficiaries with specialized health needs or who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Continue reading here…

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