New Ad Campaign Urges Policymakers to Help Seniors Keep ‘What Matters Most’
Washington, D.C. – As CMS prepares to set 2016 Medicare Advantage payment policies, AHIP’s Coalition for Medicare Choices (CMC) is mobilizing its 1.8 million members across the country to urge policymakers to protect Medicare Advantage coverage for the nearly 16 million Americans who depend on it. The CMC also launched a new ad campaign this week featuring the personal stories of CMC members discussing how Medicare Advantage has allowed them to keep what matters most.
Coalition senior, Paula Ercolini, describes in one of the ads how Medicare Advantage has helped her manage a chronic disease and, as a result, spend time doing what she loves. “I like to spend time with my grandchildren. Together, me and my husband have ten, and so that’s a lot of fun,” she says. “I have kidney disease. I like to be able to control what’s going on in my life. I like to make the choices. Medicare Advantage helps me make those choices on my own.” Watch the full ad below:
During the next several weeks, the CMC’s 1.8 million seniors will be writing letters and emails, making phone calls, attending events and engaging on social media to urge policymakers to protect Medicare Advantage as they consider policies that could impact their coverage. Each year, CMS sets payment rates for Medicare Advantage plans based on a number of factors. Preliminary 2016 rates are expected to be announced on February 20, 2015, with final rates expected in early April 2015. Since 2010, Medicare Advantage has been cut in a number of ways. Further cuts would hurt seniorseven more through reduced benefits, fewer choices, and increased costs.
Founded in 1999, the Coalition for Medicare Choices is a national grassroots organization of more than 1.8 million Medicare Advantage beneficiaries from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Visit www.MedicareChoices.org to learn more and follow the Coalition on Facebookand Twitter.