Another year, and another proposed cut to Medicare Advantage.
For three years running, Washington policymakers have proposed cuts to the Medicare Advantage program that more than 16 million seniors rely on for affordable, high quality health care.
But Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are not standing idly by while this happens. They are taking to social media to demonstrate how loud and proud they are of their Medicare Advantage coverage. Members of the Coalition for Medicare Choices (CMC) across the country are sharing their personal Medicare Advantage stories through social media and urging policymakers to protect the program from further cuts. For these beneficiaries, it’s personal — Medicare Advantage allows them to keep what matters most: access to the care and treatment they need, support to manage their health conditions, and peace of mind about their health. Below are some of the most recent highlights from Facebook:
These seniors add to a growing number of voices urging CMS to protect seniors in Medicare Advantage, including a bipartisan group of 53 senators and a broad array of providers and stakeholders. Each year, CMS sets payment rates for Medicare Advantage plans based on a number of factors. This year, CMS proposed additional cuts to 2016 Medicare Advantage payment rates on top of a nearly 10 percent cut over the last two years. Evidence shows that further cuts to Medicare Advantage hurts seniors through reduced benefits, fewer choices, and increased costs. Final payment rates are expected on April 6, 2015.
AHIP’s Coalition for Medicare Choices (CMC) recently launched a new grassroots and ad campaign to protect Medicare Advantage seniors. The CMC’s 1.8 million seniors are 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. The new ads feature the personal stories of CMC members discussing how Medicare Advantage has allowed them to keep what matters most.
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 Facebook and Twitter.