To the Editor,
I enrolled in Medicare Advantage because it offered me something I hadn’t found in traditional Medicare: a plan that pulled everything together. Predictable costs, coordinated care, and supplemental benefits that address the real gaps seniors face.
My plan has made a genuine difference in my life. I know what my costs are going to be and which doctors are in my network. Whether I need help with dental care, transportation to an appointment, or managing a complex prescription regimen, my plan has me covered. For seniors dealing with chronic conditions, or simply the ordinary challenges that come with getting older, that stability is invaluable.
That’s why proposals like the No UPCODE Act concern me deeply. The Congressional Budget Office projects the legislation could result in higher out-of-pocket costs, reduced supplemental benefits, and narrower provider networks for the more than 35 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage nationwide. These changes would make real people’s lives harder.
The 2.48% rate increase CMS finalized for 2027 was a step in the right direction. But one year’s rate adjustment doesn’t guarantee the program’s long-term stability. Congress needs to actively protect Medicare Advantage and not chip away at the foundations that make it work.
Seniors chose this program because it provides us with what we need. I hope our representatives in Washington will choose to protect it.
Sylvia Hues – Naples, FL
