By Bobby Jindal
Seniors rely on Medicare Advantage for medical care and peace of mind
America’s seniors shouldn’t be used as pawns in a political game. But that is exactly what could be happening right now in the waning days of President Biden’s administration.
President Biden has made numerous claims over the years that it’s Republicans who are the party that supposedly wants to cut the Medicare program. President Biden needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror. It is actually the Biden administration that’s spent the last two years quietly chipping away at one of the most popular healthcare programs for our seniors: Medicare Advantage. And now, apparently not satisfied with the damage they have already inflicted, it appears the Biden team is trying to squeeze in one more cut on the way out the door.
Medicare Advantage shows how choice and competition can deliver better outcomes at lower costs for seniors and taxpayers. Nearly 35 million American seniors, over half of total Medicare beneficiaries, choose Medicare Advantage for their health coverage over a traditional government-run Medicare plan. Medicare Advantage plans are offered and managed by private health insurers that contract with Medicare. Their popularity has boomed over the years because they offer better value at a lower cost for seniors. Added benefits under Medicare Advantage plans like dental and vision care, better access to preventative care, along with improved health outcomes have helped ingrain their value to America’s seniors.