5 Medicare Advantage Perks Some Seniors May No Longer Get in 2026 — and What to Review for 2027

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Quick Read

• Medicare Advantage benefits have shifted: Some plans cut back or removed grocery allowances, OTC cards, transportation help, and home safety benefits in 2026.
• The costs can add up quickly: Losing several extra benefits could leave retirees paying hundreds of dollars, or even more than $1,000, out of pocket each year.
• Check your 2027 coverage before December 7: Compare benefits, eligibility rules, prescription costs, and provider networks to avoid surprise expenses.
• Free help is available: Chapter can review Medicare options, help identify savings, and see whether your current plan still fits your needs. Call (864) 668-3280 for a free, no-pressure consultation.

The grocery allowance, over-the-counter card, or transportation help you may have depended on for years may not be part of your Medicare Advantage plan anymore. For some retirees, that has meant paying out of pocket for everyday items and services their insurance once helped cover. With another coverage year approaching, more changes could affect benefits in 2027.

The shift followed the end of a federal Medicare pilot program and wider changes in the supplemental benefits offered by private insurers. Research from KFF shows that fewer Medicare Advantage plans offered certain extras in 2026, including over-the-counter products, meal assistance, transportation, and bathroom safety equipment.

Still, those benefits have not vanished altogether. Whether you qualify depends on your specific plan, the rules attached to it, and what is offered in your area.

Here are five benefit categories worth reviewing before Medicare Open Enrollment ends on December 7.

Why Medicare Advantage Benefits Changed

One major reason was the end of Medicare’s Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model on December 31, 2025. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the model let participating Medicare Advantage plans test added benefits and different cost-sharing arrangements for certain members, including people with low incomes and more complex health needs. CMS ended the program after saying it created significant extra costs for Medicare’s trust funds, including an estimated $2.3 billion in 2021 and $2.2 billion in 2022. Even so, insurers can still offer qualifying supplemental benefits outside VBID. So if a benefit disappeared, that does not always mean it is gone for good; members need to review their plan documents to see what remains available.

1. Grocery Allowances and Healthy Food Help

For some seniors, monthly grocery allowances have helped cover rising food prices, especially in households dealing with chronic illness or limited retirement income. But these benefits are not guaranteed in Medicare Advantage, and eligibility can depend on both medical and plan-specific requirements. Under Medicare’s Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) program, qualifying plans may offer food and produce benefits to eligible members whose chronic conditions meet federal standards and whose health or function could reasonably improve with the benefit. KFF’s 2026 analysis found that food and produce benefits were still available in many Special Needs Plans, though the rules and allowance amounts varied. A retiree who once received $75 a month for groceries could face about $900 in added yearly food costs if that help disappears, which makes it important to confirm both the benefit amount and the qualification rules for 2027.

2. Over-the-Counter Medications and Wellness Items

Over-the-counter allowances have long helped Medicare Advantage members buy everyday health items such as pain relievers, allergy medicine, first-aid supplies, and certain vitamins. But the share of individual Medicare Advantage plans offering OTC allowances fell from 73% in 2025 to 66% in 2026. Even when a plan keeps the benefit, insurers may change the spending amount, approved product list, participating stores, or how often payments are made. For instance, someone who used to receive $50 each quarter could lose $200 in annual buying power if the new plan drops the benefit. Before purchasing vitamins, supplements, or other health products, check the insurer’s current OTC catalog, since coverage rules vary by plan and not every item qualifies.

3. Bathroom Safety Equipment and Fall-Prevention Items

Grab bars, shower chairs, raised toilet seats, and similar bathroom safety products can help older adults stay independent while reducing household hazards. Even so, fewer Special Needs Plans offered bathroom safety benefits in 2026, with availability slipping from 54% of plans in 2025 to 47% in 2026. That does not mean Medicare has stopped covering all safety-related equipment, because medically necessary durable medical equipment may still be eligible under separate Medicare rules. However, common home modifications and convenience items are not automatically covered, which can leave seniors paying for equipment and installation themselves. If your plan no longer covers bathroom safety products, ask what items are still eligible and whether your doctor can recommend covered equipment that fits your medical needs.

4. Transportation to Medical Visits

Transportation help can be especially useful for retirees who no longer drive or who live where public transit is limited. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer rides to doctor visits, pharmacies, or other approved healthcare destinations, but that benefit became less common in 2026. The share of individual Medicare Advantage plans offering medical transportation dropped from 30% in 2025 to 24% in 2026. A beneficiary who once got free rides to monthly specialist appointments may now have to pay for transportation independently, adding hundreds of dollars a year to healthcare costs. Before switching plans, check the number of covered rides, mileage limits, scheduling rules, and whether transportation to pharmacies or nonmedical destinations is included.

5. In-Home Help and Nonmedical Support

Some Medicare Advantage plans include extra services designed to help older adults live safely at home, such as limited in-home support, help with daily activities, and certain services tied to social needs. But these benefits vary widely, and coverage for housekeeping, grocery help, or nonmedical transportation should never be assumed. KFF’s 2026 research found that the share of Special Needs Plans offering in-home support services actually rose from 17% in 2025 to 25% in 2026, even as some other supplemental benefits became less common. The broader picture is therefore more complex than a simple nationwide cutback, with some plans adding services while others reduce or change benefits. Seniors who rely on help with everyday activities should review eligibility rules, service limits, and approved providers before assuming support will continue into 2027.

Why Losing a Benefit Can Raise Your Annual Costs

Extra benefits may seem minor on their own, but losing several at once can create real financial strain. Consider a retiree who once received $75 a month for groceries, $50 each quarter for OTC items, and $25 a month in transportation help. If all three benefits disappeared, that person could face roughly $1,400 in added yearly costs to replace the same support. These expenses generally fall outside Medicare Part D’s $2,100 out-of-pocket threshold for covered prescription drugs in 2026, which rises to $2,400 in 2027, according to Medicare.gov. For seniors living on fixed incomes, comparing the full value of supplemental benefits can matter just as much as reviewing premiums, deductibles, and drug costs.

How to Review Your Coverage Before 2027 Starts

Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, giving eligible beneficiaries a chance to review coverage for the year ahead. Start by reading your plan’s Annual Notice of Change, Evidence of Coverage, and supplemental benefits details to spot anything being reduced, removed, or tied to new eligibility rules. Use the official Medicare Plan Finder to compare plans, with attention to prescription costs, provider networks, premiums, and supplemental benefits instead of choosing coverage based only on advertised extras. If a benefit requires proof of a qualifying chronic condition, contact your insurer to find out what documentation is needed and whether your doctor must provide additional information. Beneficiaries can also get free, unbiased help through their State Health Insurance Assistance Program or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

Worried Your Medicare Plan Could Cost More?

Medicare plans change every year, and the coverage that worked well in 2026 may not be the best choice next year. Our trusted partner, Chapter, offers free, no-pressure consultations with licensed Medicare advisors who can help you compare options.

Chapter can help you confirm whether your doctors are in-network, review prescription costs, and identify benefits you may be missing. If you already have the right plan, they will tell you that, too.

Call Chapter at (864) 668-3280 for a FREE Medicare plan review.

No cost. No pressure. Just help finding the right coverage.

Chapter is a licensed insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or the federal government. Plan availability and eligibility vary.

Don’t Let Missing Benefits Turn Into a Budget Surprise

The end of the VBID model and the changes in Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits have created new questions for retirees reviewing insurance coverage. While grocery allowances, OTC benefits, transportation help, and certain home safety services became less common in 2026, many plans still offer these benefits to eligible members. The financial hit from losing even a small monthly allowance can build over the course of a year, especially for households already under pressure from medical and living costs. Before December 7, compare your expected 2027 costs and benefits carefully, and keep in mind that a plan with more extras is not always the best choice if it carries higher medical costs or leaves out your preferred doctors. A careful review now could help you avoid paying hundreds of dollars out of pocket for products and services you once received through your insurance.