Signing up for Medicare isn't as clear-cut a process as some might think. That's because enrollees have a big decision to make — stick with original Medicare (Parts A and B) and pair it with a Part D drug plan, or sign up for an all-in-one Medicare Advantage plan.
As of February 2026, more than 35 million people were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. And enrollment in Medicare Advantage has increased steadily in recent years, with 19% of eligible Medicare beneficiaries signing up in 2007 versus 54% in 2025, reports the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).
