Key Takeaways
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Medicare Advantage plans can remove or alter extra benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, and fitness programs every year, with no guarantee they will remain.
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You won’t find out about these changes until the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter arrives each fall, and switching options may be limited outside of the October 15 to December 7 enrollment window.
Why That Extra Benefit Isn’t Set in Stone
Medicare Advantage plans often promote added features that go beyond what Original Medicare covers. These can include dental cleanings, hearing aids, eyeglasses, transportation to medical appointments, over-the-counter allowances, or gym memberships. In 2025, many enrollees rely on these benefits to stretch their healthcare dollars.
But here’s the truth most enrollees discover too late: those extra perks are not guaranteed from year to year.
Each fall, private Medicare Advantage plans submit their new benefit designs to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval. Once approved, these changes go into effect starting January 1 of the following year. That means the benefit you loved in 2024 may not exist at all in 2025.
The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) Tells You What Changed—If You Read It
The ANOC letter is mailed to you by the end of September each year. This official document outlines how your current Medicare Advantage plan will change in the upcoming year.
Changes can include:
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Elimination or reduction of extra benefits
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Increases in out-of-pocket maximums
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New prior authorization requirements
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Higher copayments or coinsurance
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Changes to provider networks or drug formularies
If you toss this letter aside or don’t review it closely, you may enter the new year assuming your plan still offers the same benefits—only to find out at your next appointment that you’re no longer covered.
What’s Happening in 2025?
In 2025, several trends are reshaping the Medicare Advantage landscape:
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Reduced availability of certain supplemental benefits: Over-the-counter allowances, transportation, and meal delivery services are offered less frequently than they were in 2024.
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CMS is scrutinizing marketing claims more carefully: Plans can no longer heavily promote extra benefits without clear disclaimers that they may not be available in all areas.
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A shifting focus toward high-need populations: Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are expanding, offering targeted care for people with chronic conditions or limited incomes, while some mainstream plans are scaling back their extra offerings to control costs.
What Can Disappear, and Why
When plans remove a benefit, it’s not personal. It’s business. Private insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans negotiate contracts annually and adjust benefit structures based on cost projections, provider availability, and regional demand.
Common disappearing benefits include:
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Fitness memberships: Some plans no longer offer free gym programs due to underutilization or cost.
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Over-the-counter (OTC) credits: OTC allowances might shrink or be eliminated entirely depending on plan funding.
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Transportation services: Coverage for rides to medical appointments may be cut if few people used them or costs increased.
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Meal deliveries: These often disappear outside of post-hospitalization recovery periods.
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Expanded dental or vision: Routine cleanings might remain, but more complex care such as dentures or root canals may be removed.
You Can’t Predict, But You Can Prepare
Because plan benefits are reviewed and changed each year, you cannot count on a non-Medicare-covered service continuing indefinitely. This makes it critical to plan accordingly:
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Always read your ANOC letter in the fall. It’s your only preview of what’s coming.
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Compare other plan options during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7).
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Use the Medicare Plan Finder to see which plans offer benefits you want in your ZIP code.
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Speak to a licensed agent listed on this website for help evaluating your options.
Switching Plans Is Time Sensitive
Even if you realize your extra benefit is disappearing, you can’t switch plans anytime you want. Medicare has defined enrollment windows:
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Medicare Open Enrollment Period: October 15 to December 7. You can switch plans, return to Original Medicare, or enroll in a new plan.
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Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 to March 31. You can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare once during this period.
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Special Enrollment Periods: Limited to qualifying life events like moving, losing employer coverage, or entering a skilled nursing facility.
If you don’t act during one of these periods, you may be stuck with fewer benefits until the next year.
The Illusion of Stability
One of the biggest misconceptions about Medicare Advantage is that it’s a set-it-and-forget-it type of coverage. While your enrollment can roll over automatically each year, the benefits within the plan may not.
Even provider networks can shift. The doctor or specialist you saw in 2024 may not be in-network in 2025. Hospitals may be dropped. Prescription drug tiers may be restructured.
This volatility is an inherent part of Medicare Advantage plans. They are run by private companies operating under federal rules, but with considerable flexibility. The only consistent components are those mandated by CMS.
What You’re Paying May Not Reflect What You’ll Get
Many enrollees choose Medicare Advantage plans because of their low or no-premium structures and added benefits. But those appealing features can mask increasing costs elsewhere:
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Higher deductibles or coinsurance in the new year
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Reduction in covered services
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Changes to prescription drug coverage
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Caps on supplemental benefit use
And because plans change every calendar year, your actual out-of-pocket costs may be far different than what you anticipated.
Don’t Assume Extra Benefits Mean Full Coverage
It’s important to separate true medical coverage from supplemental perks. Medicare Part A and B define your core benefits: hospital stays, skilled nursing, doctor visits, labs, and more. Anything beyond that—like dental cleanings, hearing exams, or vision glasses—is not required by Medicare.
Medicare Advantage plans often include these extras as incentives, not guarantees. These benefits can be scaled back or removed with little notice. That’s why you must treat them as bonuses rather than essentials in your long-term care planning.
What to Do if You Lose a Benefit You Rely On
If a benefit is removed and it was essential to your care, you still have a few options:
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Search for another plan that offers the benefit during open enrollment. Be sure it covers your providers and medications.
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Reevaluate your needs. If the rest of your healthcare is being met, paying for that one service out-of-pocket may be cheaper than switching to a less compatible plan.
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Explore Original Medicare with a supplement. Medigap policies offer predictable out-of-pocket costs, and you can pair them with standalone Part D plans.
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Call a licensed agent listed on this website. They can help you understand your choices and timeline for change.
Relying on Medicare Advantage Benefits? Stay Alert
Medicare Advantage plans offer many conveniences and helpful extras—but none of them are permanent. Staying informed is your best defense.
Each year, you must:
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Read your ANOC letter carefully.
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Compare available plans based on your current needs.
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Anticipate that perks like dental or OTC credits might not stay the same.
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Ask for help from a licensed agent listed on this website if you’re unsure.
Failing to review your plan annually can cost you not only money but access to essential services.
Don’t Let a Silent Benefit Change Derail Your Healthcare
The benefits you count on now could be gone by January 1. Medicare Advantage plans are allowed to adjust their offerings annually, and that includes removing supplemental services many beneficiaries value.
This makes proactive plan review an essential part of your Medicare strategy. Don’t wait until you’re denied a service to realize your coverage changed.
If you want to keep enjoying added benefits without nasty surprises, get in touch with a licensed agent listed on this website. They’ll help you review your current plan and compare others to ensure your needs are met in 2025 and beyond.
