Medicare Advantage Enrollees Have Access to About Half of the Physicians Available to Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries

KFF October 27, 2025
Matthew Rae, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Tricia Neuman, and Karen Pollitz

Enrollment in Medicare Advantage, the private plan alternative to traditional Medicare, has increased steadily over time. The growth in enrollment has been accompanied by an increase in the number of Medicare Advantage plans, with the average beneficiary having the option to choose among 42 plans in 2025, including 34 with prescription drug coverage. Most Medicare Advantage insurers use provider networks, along with other tools, such as prior authorization, to help manage utilization and lower costs. While these practices may contribute to insurers’ ability to offer extra benefits and reduce cost sharing, they may also impose barriers to care by restricting choice of physicians, hospitals, and other providers, introducing additional complexity in comparing and choosing plans, and creating potential for disruption...

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