Coalition Members Meet with Representative Pappas

Seven members of the Coalition for Medicare Choices (CMC) recently met virtually with Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) to discuss how Medicare Advantage delivers better services, better access to care, and better value for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Coalition member Scott discussed the difference Medicare Advantage makes for seniors at Granite State Independent Living facilities. The benefits of Medicare Advantage don’t stop with the people served directly by the program, he said. They extend to their families and the people who care for them and help seniors spend more time with their loved ones as they live longer, healthier lives.

Deborah, a Coalition advocate, has been working with health plans since the early 1990s, and she said she is constantly impressed with the quality and coordinated care of Medicare Advantage. Deborah often works with low-income seniors who wouldn’t be able to access services without Medicare Advantage. Based on her experiences, she says benefits like companion care, transportation, socialization, telehealth, and wellness programs are important.

“It’s these services that Medicare Advantage provides that may not show up on a spreadsheet or be talked about during your debates in Congress that are making a massive difference in people’s lives,” Deborah said.

CMC member Tom said his transition to Medicare Advantage was easy as the program provided “more information than he can take in.” Despite having sleep apnea, he is otherwise healthy, and said he is grateful for the coverage and services Medicare Advantage delivers. He hasn’t had any issues during his six years with the program, and he loves the wide variety of benefits available to keep seniors healthy.

Coalition member and State Representative Joan Hamblett shared her gratitude that her cataract surgery was mostly covered by Medicare Advantage, and the new eyeglasses she needed after surgery were covered in full. “It’s been truly a blessing,” Representative Hamblett said of her Medicare Advantage coverage.

Coalition member Roger thanked Representative Pappas for “fighting the good fight” and meeting with the group. He worked in insurance for many years, said he knows what good coverage is. The many choices that come with Medicare Advantage make the program stand out, he said, noting that he personally loves that his gym membership is covered.

CMC member Tom has been on both sides of the insurance bargaining table. He has found that Medicare Advantage coverage is great, and the quality of service is second to none. When his wife needed surgery recently, he was grateful to know that their Medicare Advantage plan covered the procedure, even though it was done out of state. He added that he serves on the Governor’s Commission on Disability and hears frequently that people are happy with Medicare Advantage.

Bob, another Coalition member, works with many retired state employees who all have positive stories about their Medicare Advantage coverage. He noted that many veterans use Medicare Advantage together with their TRICARE benefits, which lowers their premiums even further.

Representative Pappas closed the meeting by stating his support for the program. “We signed a letter back in January expressing strong bipartisan support for Medicare Advantage that was signed by hundreds of colleagues across the country and across the aisle, which is good news for the program.” He went on to say, “[I’m] strongly in support of Medicare Advantage and want to do all I can to make sure there are no cuts and no one who is currently enrolled is prohibited from doing so in the future. I believe there is great bipartisan support for that approach.”

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