Letter: Taking Care of Medicare Advantage

Originally published in the San Antonio Express-News

As Congress works to improve the lives of the American people, we must emphasize and address the needs of our most vulnerable.

With greater age comes increased health care needs. Over the past year, these concerns have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed a disproportionate number of senior’s lives among the 700,000 lost.

Congress must take a stand and pass legislation that aims to change the very framework of our societal health care programs, while allowing this opportunity to provide seniors with more dependability.

I have long been an advocate for promoting the independence and wellbeing of senior.  Part of that effort comes from promoting health programs that assist seniors with all aspects of their health, from preventative care to recovery. That is why I am a staunch supporter of Medicare Advantage – the only program available to seniors that provides them with full-service coverage at a low cost.

Medicare Advantage connects seniors with better benefits at every step of care. Through preventative services such as health screenings, dental, vision, and hearing benefits, wellness programs, and gym memberships, seniors are connected with resources that promote healthy living, decreasing the chances of serious illness or injury.

The plans available through Medicare Advantage also work to help seniors recover quickly. In-home caregiver support, companion care, transportation to and from doctors’ appointments, and care coordination and disease management services provide seniors with the options they need for a personalized treatment plan.

Medicare Advantage has provided quality health care coverage for nearly 2 million Texans, including Hispanic and other minority communities.

Because the Hispanic community faces higher risk of chronic or serious disease, including heart disease and diabetes, health care coverage that connects seniors with low-cost essential services is helping to improve health outcomes for minorities in Texas and across the country.

With low premiums and capped out-of-pocket costs, seniors will be able to afford the quality of treatment they deserve. And the premiums for Medicare Advantage are set to decrease again in 2022, which will hopefully result in even more access for this essential coverage.

The benefits of Medicare Advantage are wide ranging and have had profound impacts on the mental and physical health of seniors. Medicare Advantage is a proven success.

The political climate in Congress, and across the country, is one that feels filled with division. In these times, it is increasingly important that we identify areas where our leaders can come together and pass meaningful policy to better serve our seniors.

Medicare Advantage has support among all constituencies of the American people and bipartisan support in Congress. This is an opportunity to find common ground and uplift voices often left out of political conversation. Seniors, particularly those from minority communities, deserve to have a champion to voice their concerns. That is why I am a proud advocate of Medicare Advantage and will keep working to ensure the success of this program.

Representative Henry Cueller