Misleading Marketing Practices in Medicare Advantage

In recent years, concerns about aggressive and deceptive marketing practices in Medicare Advantage have become more pressing. These concerns have focused on agents and brokers used by Medicare Advantage plans who target and mislead seniors, at times enrolling them in plans without their knowledge or directing them to plans that substantially increase their out-of-pocket costs. This study will examine Medicare Advantage marketing practices and the harms they cause to individuals. It will focus on the complaints individuals reported to CMS from 2020 to 2024 about Medicare Advantage marketing practices. We will also look at the actions taken by agents and brokers that led to the complaints and the incentive structures that encourage brokers to change individuals' enrollments.

Announced or Revised	Agency	Title	Component	Report Number(s)	Expected Issue Date (FY)
July 2025	CMS	Misleading Marketing Practices in Medicare Advantage	Office of Evaluation and Inspections	OEI-02-25-00340	2026