Millions of seniors are drawn to Medicare Advantage plans by promises of free or deeply discounted extras, from eyeglasses and dental coverage to gym memberships and even reimbursements for golf clubs or pickleball paddles. Yet many of these benefits go unused.
“Medicare Advantage enrollees often don’t know which supplemental benefits are offered by their plans or how to use them,” Gretchen Jacobson, vice president for Medicare at the Commonwealth Fund, told Yahoo Finance. “Most Medicare Advantage enrollees say that they would like to receive notifications about unused benefits.”
A new Commonwealth Fund study found that eight in 10 beneficiaries view these supplemental benefits as an important part of their coverage. Despite that, nearly three in 10 reported not using any of them in the past year. Fewer than half took advantage of dental, vision, gym memberships, or over-the-counter drug allowances, and less than one in 10 used benefits such as hearing aids, grocery credits, or meal delivery.
Medicare Advantage now covers about 34.4 million people, roughly 54% of all eligible Medicare beneficiaries, according to health research nonprofit KFF. That share has climbed sharply from about 32% a decade ago.
Unlike traditional Medicare, which is run by the federal government, Medicare Advantage plans are administered by private insurers such as UnitedHealthcare and Humana. Their popularity has surged in part because they bundle medical coverage with “extras” not included in original Medicare.
Those perks are funded through federal payments to insurers. According to a 2025 report from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, insurers will receive about $86 billion this year to finance these supplemental benefits, up from $21 billion in 2018.
Some beneficiaries say they simply do not need the added services. More concerning, however, is that about one-quarter of enrollees surveyed said they either do not know all the benefits their plan offers or do not understand how to use them.
“Given the extensive federal funds that are provided for these benefits, it’s 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 them,” Jacobson said. She added that reminders about unused benefits could help close that gap.
Such reminders were nearly mandated. A federal rule that would have required insurers to notify members about unused supplemental benefits was scheduled to take effect next year. However, in September, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it would delay the requirement.
Even when beneficiaries are aware of their perks, many find them difficult to access. Commonwealth researchers found that seniors often face limited provider networks, lack of nearby gyms participating in programs like SilverSneakers, or no local vendors offering in-network services or rebates.
Meanwhile, time is running out for seniors to review their coverage. Medicare’s annual enrollment period ends on Dec. 7, with changes taking effect Jan. 1.
For 2026, some Medicare Advantage plans are expected to reduce dental and vision coverage and raise copays for specialist visits. That means certain perks, including gym memberships, may disappear.
“Supplemental benefits, such as dental, vision, and gym memberships, should be taken into consideration, but only after ensuring that the plan will provide affordable medical coverage and access to the doctors, hospitals, and medications that the person needs,” Louise Norris, a health policy analyst at MedicareResources.org, previously told Yahoo Finance.
During the remaining enrollment window, beneficiaries can switch between original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Medicare Advantage plans, adjust Part D prescription drug coverage, and in some cases add or change a Medigap policy.