Seniors in the Coalition for Medicare Choices Mobilize Ahead of New Administration’s Changes to Medicare Advantage

“I’m hopeful that the new president is going to protect seniors and
keep my health care costs down. I’m paying close attention to what
happens to my Medicare Advantage coverage,” said CMC member Frank Little
of Virginia Beach.

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Coalition for Medicare Choices (CMC), the nation’s largest and most
influential organization dedicated to protecting Medicare Advantage
(MA), is mobilizing its 2 million members across 30 states to protect
MA. This mobilization will be supported by a seven-figure advertising
campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of MA plans.

In February, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will
issue a “rate notice,” which announces its planned changes to MA –
including program funding. Those changes could affect the nearly 18
million beneficiaries who depend on MA and how much they pay for their
coverage.

The rate notice will be one of the first actions on health care under
the new Administration. With President-Elect Donald J. Trump’s vocal
support for Medicare, seniors are optimistic.

“My Medicare Advantage is so important to my health, and I’m a strong
supporter of the program,” said CMC member Shirley Cressman of
Lancaster, PA. “The new president has a real opportunity to protect and
improve health care for seniors. I’m excited about the possibilities for
Medicare Advantage.”

Medicare Advantage Works

The MA program delivers better value for taxpayers and better coverage
for more seniors:

• The Medicare
  Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) announced average payments to
  MA plans are now equivalent to traditional Medicare costs. That means
  that MA and traditional Medicare have the same cost to taxpayers, but
  because MA plans offer much more than traditional Medicare, such as
  additional benefits, out-of-pocket spending caps, and prescription
  drug coverage for no additional premiums, it delivers greater value.
• Physicians and other health care providers in MA provider networks are
  using innovative
  and effective techniques for how they serve all Medicare
  beneficiaries, not just MA enrollees. As a result, more enrollment in
  MA is leading to a slower rate of growth in traditional Medicare
  costs, particularly in areas where MA is popular.
• Research continues to show that MA is more efficient and produces
  better outcomes than traditional Medicare. A new
  peer-reviewed study found that MA beneficiaries used less health
  care services yet were less likely to be readmitted to a hospital than
  enrollees in traditional Medicare.

Seniors Connecting with Congress

Because of the value their MA coverage delivers every day, CMC seniors
are mobilizing in 30 states and Washington, D.C., to inform and educate
their representatives. Seniors will deliver tens of thousands of
letters, phone calls, social media posts, and in-person meetings to
demonstrate their support for Medicare Advantage. Last year, this
nationwide grassroots action resulted in more than 400 Members of
Congress – from both parties – expressing their support.

Founded in 1999, the Coalition for Medicare Choices is a national
grassroots organization of more than 2 million Medicare Advantage
beneficiaries and supporters from all 50 states, the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico. Visit www.MedicareChoices.org to
learn more.

Contacts

Coalition for Medicare Choices (CMC)
Press Contact:
Kristine
Grow, 202-778-3227
kgrow@ahip.org