Medicare Advantage: What Lawmakers Are Saying

27 million seniors and people with disabilities choose Medicare Advantage for high-quality, affordable health care coverage. 94% of seniors with Medicare Advantage are satisfied with their coverage, and the program holds bipartisan support among lawmakers as well. In fact, a bipartisan group of 13 U.S. senators recently came forward in a letter to voice their support for Medicare Advantage and underscore their commitment to protecting it from harmful cuts.

Throughout the year, Coalition for Medicare Choices (CMC) members have been engaging their Members of Congress to discuss why Medicare Advantage is such an important program. Here’s what some lawmakers had to say…

During a conversation with Colorado coalition members, Rep. Diana DeGette shared that there is “really broad, bipartisan support in the House for [Medicare Advantage.]” She later told the group that Medicare Advantage “brings added benefits and efficiencies and quality of care.”

While discussing the benefits of Medicare Advantage with our Texas Coalition members, Rep. Colin Allred told the group, “I’ve been a supporter of Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans since I’ve been in Congress… all my family members are on Medicare Advantage plans, so I’m clearly not going to be somebody who wants to see those plans get worse.” He went on to say, “I do think that since Medicare Advantage plans offer vision, dental and hearing benefits to beneficiaries it’s a great advantage to have. I want to make sure that our seniors can retire with dignity and find ways to pursue whatever goals you have in your post retirement phase.”

During a conversation with our Arizona Coalition members, Rep. Ruben Gallego shared, “I am, and have always been supportive of Medicare Advantage. I know it’s important to not just my constituents, but to people across the state.” He went on to say, “I was assisting my mother in looking at MA plans, so the importance of Medicare Advantage really hit close to home for me…I wouldn’t support cuts to Medicare Advantage.”

Rep. Elaine Luria told our Virginia Coalition members how grateful she is to hear their stories saying, “It’s nice to hear from you personally how satisfied you are with Medicare Advantage. Stories like this make an impact.”

Rep. Brenda Lawrence shared, “I will continue to advocate so that my constituents have options like Medicare Advantage for their health care coverage,” after discussing the importance of Medicare Advantage with our Michigan Coalition members.

When meeting with our Washington Coalition members, Rep. Kim Schrier, who is also a pediatrician, noted that “these programs, including Medicare Advantage, are about helping people.”

Medicare Advantage provides seniors and those with disabilities better services, better access to care, and better value, which is why Members of Congress continue to advocate for this essential program.

To hear what Medicare Advantage members are saying about this essential health coverage, visit our Stories page.