Medicare coverage can include more than doctor visits, hospital care, and prescriptions. In 2026, many Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits ranging from dental care to transportation and over-the-counter allowances. Yet federal officials have acknowledged that utilization of supplemental benefits can be low. Knowing what is already included in a plan can help beneficiaries avoid leaving useful services unused.
Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefits
Dental, vision, and hearing coverage are among the most widely available Medicare Advantage extras. Nearly all individual Medicare Advantage plans available for general enrollment in 2026 offer some form of vision, dental, and hearing benefit (source). Depending on the plan, these benefits might include eye exams, eyeglasses, hearing exams, hearing aids, dental cleanings, or broader dental treatment.
These benefits are particularly important because Original Medicare generally does not cover routine eye exams for glasses, hearing aids and fitting exams, or most routine dental care (source). Beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage should therefore check exactly what their plan includes, along with any annual limits, provider-network requirements, copayments, or prior authorization rules. Simply having dental or hearing coverage listed does not mean every service is covered in full.
Over-the-Counter Allowances Can Be Easy to Miss
Another benefit worth checking is an allowance for eligible over-the-counter products. In 2026, 66% of individual Medicare Advantage plans offer an OTC allowance, although availability has fallen from 73% in 2025 (source).
Depending on the individual plan, these benefits may help members obtain approved health-related items without paying the entire cost themselves. The rules can differ substantially, including what products qualify, where they can be purchased, and how an allowance is accessed. A beneficiary who never activates a benefit card, checks an eligible-product catalogue, or reviews the plan’s instructions could miss a benefit that was already included with the coverage.
Meals and Transportation May Be Available
Food and transportation benefits are less universal but can be particularly useful for people dealing with illness, mobility difficulties, or limited access to services. For 2026, 57% of individual Medicare Advantage plans offer a meal benefit, while 24% offer transportation for medical needs (source).
Availability can also differ substantially for people enrolled in Special Needs Plans. In 2026, 67% of SNPs offer transportation benefits and 66% offer meal benefits. Some SNPs also provide in-home support, bathroom safety equipment, or assistance for caregivers. Eligibility and the circumstances under which these services can be used vary, so beneficiaries should not assume that a benefit shown in advertising automatically applies to them.
Fitness and In-Home Support Are Worth Checking
Fitness benefits remain especially common. KFF reports that 93% of individual Medicare Advantage plans offer a fitness benefit in 2026 (source). These programs can differ by insurer and location, potentially involving participating fitness facilities or other plan-approved wellness services.
In-home support is less common but may be important for qualifying beneficiaries. Among Special Needs Plans, the share offering in-home support services increased to 25% in 2026. This illustrates why reviewing benefits individually matters: some of the most useful assistance may be tied to a particular plan type, health condition, or eligibility requirement rather than being available to every Medicare enrollee.
Medicare Now Calls Attention to Unused Benefits
The problem of unused Medicare Advantage benefits is significant enough that federal regulators created a specific notification requirement. CMS has required Medicare Advantage plans to send members a personalized mid-year notice listing supplemental benefits they had not accessed during the first six months of the year. The notice also explains the benefit, applicable cost sharing, how to access it, network requirements, and where to get assistance (source).
For beneficiaries in 2026, that notice is worth reading rather than treating it as routine insurance mail. CMS introduced the requirement after plans reported low utilization of many supplemental benefits. It provides a direct opportunity to identify services a member may already be entitled to use.
How to Find Benefits You May Be Overlooking
The most reliable starting point is the plan’s current Evidence of Coverage and Summary of Benefits. Beneficiaries can look specifically for dental, vision, hearing, fitness, OTC, transportation, meal, and in-home benefits, then check limits and eligibility rules. Medicare also recommends contacting the individual Medicare Advantage plan to determine what extra benefits it offers and what restrictions apply (source).
Reviewing benefits should not be limited to enrollment season. A plan can contain useful services that are forgotten months after enrollment. Checking coverage periodically, especially after receiving a mid-year benefit notice, can reveal services that might otherwise remain unused.
Why You Should Learn More About Medicare Benefits
The Medicare benefit most easily overlooked may simply be the one a beneficiary never realizes is included. In 2026, Medicare Advantage plans continue to offer extras ranging from dental and hearing care to fitness programs, OTC allowances, meals, transportation, and certain in-home services.
Availability varies by plan, but CMS’s concern about low utilization shows that unused benefits are a genuine issue. Reviewing the details of current coverage can help beneficiaries understand what they already have and make better use of benefits intended to support their health and independence.