Coalition Members Meet Virtually with Representative Bonamici

Ten members of the Coalition for Medicare Choices (CMC) recently met with Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01). They shared their experiences with the many ways Medicare Advantage provides both seniors and individuals with disabilities better services, better access to care, and better value than original Medicare.

Coalition member Judy kicked off the meeting by sharing how fortunate she feels to have Medicare Advantage. She finds that Medicare Advantage provides more services than what is included in original Medicare, including a gym membership through SilverSneakers, which helps her place an emphasis on preventive care.

James, another Coalition member, is under 65 but like millions of Americans with disabilities, he relies on Medicare Advantage for his coverage. James was in a car accident seven years ago that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Medicare Advantage, he said, covers many gaps that original Medicare did not cover. He added that care coordination has been simple, and the reduced costs have been “a godsend.”

Vanden, a physician and veteran who lives with a disability, said he’s been covered by Medicare Advantage for about a year. Vanden told the group that he has found the care he receives from the program’s network of doctors and hospitals to be tremendous.

Coalition member Ruben retired last year and said that he and his wife are happy with Medicare Advantage. They’ve enjoyed exploring the many benefits and services offered by the program.

Rosie, another Coalition member, told the group that she and her husband picked a Medicare Advantage plan because the care providers she preferred at a local teaching hospital were in the network. Rosie has faced several health issues over the last few years and said Medicare Advantage has been there for her every step of the way. She said her copays are very reasonable, sharing as an example that recent care and testing for emergency high blood pressure issues cost her less than $100.

Steven and Karen have been on Medicare Advantage for 15 years and appreciate how the program keeps things simple and affordable. When Steven broke his hand, he was worried but shared that he only paid $70 for the care he received. Karen praised the dental coverage that is part of her plan, sharing that she broke a veneer on her front tooth while out of town and was still able to quickly find a dentist who was covered within her Medicare Advantage network.

Carol is a CMC advocate who cares for her 67-year-old disabled brother. She and her siblings considered many coverage options for him but selected Medicare Advantage because of the coordination of services, which she described as amazing. Even trips to the emergency department have been affordable for the family.

Coalition member Ray is in good health and focused on the hearing and vision benefits that are included in his Medicare Advantage plan. Before enrolling in Medicare Advantage, his hearing aids were expensive. With Medicare Advantage, he said he gets better quality hearing aids for a reasonable price.

Maureen, another Coalition member, also appreciates the better services and better access to care Medicare Advantage delivers. When she lost her sister to breast cancer, Maureen was covered for grief counseling. She is concerned about issues like long COVID but said she feels reassured to have affordable health care coverage through Medicare Advantage.

Representative Bonamici thanked everyone for sharing their stories and said, “I’ll do what I can to make sure you get the benefits you need. I just recently signed a letter of support for the renewal process with all of our delegation … because we understand that here in Oregon that we are one of the top states for Medicare Advantage.”

The CMC is grateful to Representative Bonamici for meeting with our Coalition members and for her continued support of Medicare Advantage.