Today, the Coalition announced that membership has reached an important milestone—2 million Medicare Advantage seniors working to protect their benefits. The following is a guest blog post by the 2 millionth member, Bertha Shinn of Las Vegas, who was recently officially honored by the Coalition at an event with Congressman Joe Heck (NV). We are excited to welcome Bertha to the CMC as we continue our ongoing, year-round work to protect and strengthen Medicare Advantage with 2 million other beneficiaries like her.
Using our health care system can be complicated and a real challenge for anybody, but especially for seniors like me with a number of health conditions. That’s why I was excited to find Medicare Advantage six months ago because it keeps my costs low and has benefits that help keep me as healthy as I can be.
And I’m not the only one. I knew that millions of people rely on Medicare Advantage, but it wasn’t until I recently joined the Coalition for Medicare Choices that I had the chance to hear the stories of other seniors. You can also imagine how surprised I was to learn that I am actually the 2 millionth senior to join the Coalition! This is a real honor, and I’m glad the Coalition makes it so easy to stand up for the health care I rely on.
I would also like to say that making my voice heard with the Coalition has been such an informative and exciting experience! Already, I’ve participated in an event with my Congressman, met new friends, and been featured in a new video about my own Medicare Advantage story. I am really excited to be a part of such an active group.
I know firsthand the importance of quality health care that you can afford. That’s what Medicare Advantage offers. I am a cancer survivor and have diabetes also. This means that I have several medications that would be very expensive and hard to manage if it weren’t for my Medicare Advantage.
As I continue to learn more, I am discovering that my Medicare Advantage has even more benefits than I imagined. I really enjoy the fitness benefits that help keep me active and healthy. The teachers at my classes offer an excellent exercise plan. I am finding the classes are helpful for bone-strengthening and cardiovascular health. So many seniors struggle to remain fit. Medicare Advantage gives us the tools we need.
I was proud to learn that I am the 2 millionth Medicare Advantage senior to join the Coalition, and I’ve been telling my family and friends what a wonderful experience it has been so far. I would urge other seniors to sign up with the Coalition to protect their health care choices.