--- title: "Stay Or Switch Together: Medicare Advantage Retention Is A Household Issue" description: Market research shows Medicare Advantage choices are shaped by spouses, adult children, and caregivers, and why retention strategy needs to see the whole household. image: https://blog.mdrginc.com/hubfs/pexels-ron-lach-9869630.jpg --- [![resized-transparent-logo](https://blog.mdrginc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/resized-transparent-logo.png?width=135&height=40&name=resized-transparent-logo.png "resized-transparent-logo")](https://www.mdrginc.com/) - [Who We Are](https://www.mdrginc.com/who-we-are/) - Who We Are - [Our Team](https://www.mdrginc.com/who-we-are/) - [History](https://www.mdrginc.com/who-we-are/history/) - [What We Do](https://www.mdrginc.com/what-we-do/) - Industries - [Healthcare](https://www.mdrginc.com/what-we-do/healthcare-market-research/) - [CPG](https://www.mdrginc.com/what-we-do/cpg-industry/) - [Finance](https://www.mdrginc.com/what-we-do/finance-industry/) - [Media and Communications](https://www.mdrginc.com/what-we-do/media-and-communications/) - 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[Blog](https://blog.mdrginc.com/) - [Case Studies](https://blog.mdrginc.com/case-study) - [Thought Leadership](https://www.mdrginc.com/our-work) - [Resources](https://www.mdrginc.com/our-work/resources/) - [Podcast](https://www.mdrginc.com/our-work/mdrg-healthcare-podcast/) - Back [Contact Us](https://www.mdrginc.com/contact/) [Contact Us](https://www.mdrginc.com/contact/) Topic: [Market Research](https://blog.mdrginc.com/tag/market-research) [Trends](https://blog.mdrginc.com/tag/trends) [Healthcare](https://blog.mdrginc.com/tag/healthcare) # Stay Or Switch Together: Medicare Advantage Retention Is A Household Issue by [Margaret Fletcher](https://blog.mdrginc.com/author/margaret-fletcher-mdrg) Oct 28, 2026, 5:21:29 PM Ask consumers what matters when choosing a healthcare provider, and you'll probably hear a long list: quality of care, convenient locations, short wait times, easy scheduling, friendly staff, insurance coverage, strong communication, digital tools, and more. ## **Medicare Choices Are Made At The Kitchen Table** Medicare Advantage plans enroll members one at a time. The decision to join, stay or leave is often shared with a spouse, an adult child or another family caregiver. The market now is tighter: [KFF](https://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-advantage-enrollment-update-and-key-trends/) reports Medicare Advantage enrollment grew just 3% in 2026, and [J.D. Power](https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2026-u-s-medicare-advantage-study/) found member satisfaction has dropped 41 points since 2024.   ## ***Couples Tend To Stay And Switch Together*** A 2024 [University of Michigan study](https://ihpi.umich.edu/news/sickness-and-health-older-couples-mostly-make-medicare-moves-together) of 1,812 couples in Medicare Advantage found that when one partner switched to another plan, 86% of their partners switched too. For plans, retention often rises or falls two members at a time. *![86 couples Infographic](https://blog.mdrginc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/86%20couples%20Infographic.png?width=600&height=750&name=86%20couples%20Infographic.png)*   ## ***Family Helps Choose The Plan, And Steps In When Something Goes Wrong*** In a [2022 Commonwealth Fund survey](https://doi.org/10.26099/2rfq-z770), about one in five Medicare Advantage enrollees had help from friends or family choosing coverage. That help continues after enrollment. Nearly one in five people who contacted the [Medicare Rights Center's helpline](https://www.medicarerights.org/pdf/2023-helpline-trends-report.pdf) in 2023 were caregivers or family members, and Medicare Advantage health services drew more coverage and denial questions than any other topic. These callers sought help, so they aren't representative of those that don’t, but they show who often steps in when a claim is denied. ![LightInfographic\_Caregivers](https://blog.mdrginc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LightInfographic_Caregivers.png?width=600&height=750&name=LightInfographic_Caregivers.png) ## ***Plans With More Support Are Earning More Trust*** In J.D. Power's 2026 study, only 43% of Medicare Advantage members strongly agreed their plan is a trusted partner in their health and wellness. Special needs plans, known for high-touch care coordination and dedicated health advocates, scored significantly higher on satisfaction and trust. Plans see the connection. In [2023 interviews by ATI Advisory and the Long-Term Quality Alliance](https://advancingstates.org/sites/default/files/ATI-TSF_Report-032323.pdf), plans described caregiver and in-home support benefits mainly as a way to keep members satisfied and enrolled, yet said they struggle to identify a member's caregiver. Put together, the research is consistent: coverage decisions are shared, and a retention strategy built around a single member record misses much of what drives them.   ## **Key Questions For Medicare Advantage Plan Teams To Ask Caregivers** - Do we know which members have a caregiver, and who that person is? - When a member leaves, do we know whether their partner left too? - Who calls us about denials, and what do those calls teach them about our plan? - Does our Open Enrollment outreach speak to the household, or only to the member? ## Looking Ahead More than 4.1 million Americans are turning 65 each year, according to a [2024 Retirement Income Institute paper](https://protectedincome.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Whitepaper_Fichtner.pdf). Some of the adult children helping a parent with coverage today will be choosing their own in the years ahead, with that experience as a reference point. Want the full picture of how caregiving is shaping tomorrow's healthcare consumers? 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Sign up for our monthly insights email and gain exclusive access to valuable market research, industry trends, and actionable recommendations delivered directly to your inbox. - - - - [mailto:?subject=%20site&body=Check%20out%20this%20site%20https://blog.mdrginc.com/stay-or-switch-together-medicare-advantage-retention-is-a-household-issue](mailto:?subject=%20site&body=Check%20out%20this%20site%20https://blog.mdrginc.com/stay-or-switch-together-medicare-advantage-retention-is-a-household-issue) Topics from this blog: [Market Research](https://blog.mdrginc.com/tag/market-research) [Trends](https://blog.mdrginc.com/tag/trends) [Healthcare](https://blog.mdrginc.com/tag/healthcare) ### [Margaret Fletcher](https://blog.mdrginc.com/blog/author/margaret-fletcher-mdrg) ## Is your research data rich but insights poor? Download our guide to evaluate your research process and set the foundation for future success. [DOWNLOAD NOW](https://info.mdrginc.com/landing-page-improving-insights-a-guide-to-getting-actionable-results-from-market-research) We are America's Favorite **Homestay for Foreign Students!** Start your **student homestay** adventure with us today and find out why international student's from all over the world love AmeriStudent. ## More blogs on this topic: [Stay Or Switch Together: Medicare Advantage Retention Is A Household Issue](https://blog.mdrginc.com/stay-or-switch-together-medicare-advantage-retention-is-a-household-issue) [Trust, AI, and Very Sore Feet: Lessons From SHSMD 2026](https://blog.mdrginc.com/trust-ai-and-very-sore-feet-lessons-from-shsmd-2026) [Trust In The System And Trust In Your Doctor Are Two Different Things](https://blog.mdrginc.com/trust-in-the-system-and-trust-in-your-doctor-are-two-different-things) [What Summer Beverage Launches Reveal About Consumer Behavior](https://blog.mdrginc.com/what-summer-beverage-launches-reveal-about-consumer-behavior) - [Core Competencies](https://www.mdrginc.com/what-we-do/core-competencies/) - [Careers](https://www.mdrginc.com/who-we-are/) - [How We Do It](https://www.mdrginc.com/how-we-do-it/) - [Contact](https://www.mdrginc.com/contact/) - [Blogs](https://blog.mdrginc.com) [![MDRG](https://blog.mdrginc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/MDRG_June2021/images/footer-Logo.png?width=182&height=589&name=footer-Logo.png "MDRG")](https://www.mdrginc.com/) - - - - New Orleans, LA 70112 - [(504) - 821 - 1910](tel:(504)%20-%20821%20-%201910) - [info@mdrginc.com](mailto:info@mdrginc.com) © MDRG inc. 2021. 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