Coalition Members Meet with the Office of Senator-elect Budd

Three members of the Coalition for Medicare Choices (CMC) recently met with the office of Senator-elect Ted Budd (R-NC) to discuss the value Medicare Advantage brings to seniors and individuals with disabilities in North Carolina.

As a local county commissioner, Coalition member Zach said he is always looking for issues that are important to the community and health care is a top priority. Zach said the Medicare Advantage program is very popular, noting that more than 9 in 10 Medicare Advantage enrollees are satisfied with their coverage. He also highlighted that Medicare Advantage is one of the few issues that has strong bipartisan support.

Matt, another Coalition member, said as a banker in Gastonia, people ask him for advice on everything, including health insurance. He said has done research on Medicare Advantage and likes the “peace of mind” the program provides through its cost controls and all-encompassing care. He added that he believes seniors should have choices when it comes to the coverage that works best for them. Matt said Medicare Advantage continues to be an extremely popular option among seniors in North Carolina, as more than 900,000 people have chosen a Medicare Advantage plan — nearly 48% of the Medicare-eligible population in the state.

Coalition member George said Moore County has more seniors than most counties in the state. He added that Medicare Advantage is a “very good program” and he encourages Senator-elect Budd to “do anything he can to make sure it remains a solid option for North Carolina seniors.” He added that medical providers in Moore County also like Medicare Advantage. As an enrollee himself, George said he always encourages friends and colleagues to choose the program for the superior care it provides at a low cost.

Senator-elect Budd’s staff thanked everyone for joining the call and shared that the Senator-elect was always a supporter of Medicare Advantage during his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives and participated in sign on letters in support of the program. He said they researched the issue and found that nearly 60% of those eligible for Medicare in Senator-elect Budd’s former House district were Medicare Advantage enrollees.

The CMC is grateful to the office of Senator-elect Budd for meeting with our Coalition members and for his support of Medicare Advantage.