For seniors like me, Medicare Advantage has been more than just health coverage — it’s been a lifeline. Medicare Advantage provides high-quality, comprehensive care without the high costs that often put health care out of reach for seniors on fixed incomes.
I spent more than two decades in health care in the Park Nicollet system in Minnesota. I have witnessed the benefits of this program first-hand for low-income communities and those with chronic conditions. With the cost of living continually rising, impacting essentials like groceries, utilities, and housing, affordable health care is not just a nice-to-have but a necessity. Medicare Advantage helps me keep my medical costs manageable, giving me peace of mind that, quite honestly, is priceless.
The benefits I receive through Medicare Advantage go beyond basic health care. I get access to services that are crucial as I age, like dental and vision care, all bundled into a plan with one low monthly premium. This combination is rare in today’s insurance landscape. For many of us, these added services prevent small health issues from becoming larger, more costly problems down the line. Yet Medicare Advantage does more than keep costs low; it also simplifies the complex web of health care services, ensuring that I receive coordinated care across my providers. This coordination means fewer administrative hassles, fewer gaps in care, and, ultimately, better health outcomes.
However, there’s growing concern about the impact of two years of cuts to Medicare Advantage, which are already causing reduced benefits, higher costs, and fewer choices for seniors. These cuts are alarming to those of us who rely on this program to stay healthy and financially stable. I can’t afford to lose the comprehensive coverage I’ve come to depend on, especially not when it includes those essential dental and vision benefits that Fee-For-Service Medicare doesn’t provide. The idea of returning to a fragmented, costly system is something that keeps me — and many seniors — up at night.
Medicare Advantage is a program that works, and it’s working for a large number of people right here in Minnesota. There are hundreds of thousands of us in this state alone who rely on it. Seniors are already facing higher expenses across the board, and the last thing we need is for our health care to become less affordable or less accessible. Any reduction in benefits or increase in costs would put additional strain on seniors, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet.
Given the high stakes, we need our representatives in Congress to be champions for Medicare Advantage. I urge Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Reps. Angie Craig and Tom Emmer to prioritize this program and protect it from changes that could weaken it. Affordable health care should be a bipartisan priority; this isn’t a political issue, it’s a human one. People need to be able to access health care that won’t put them in financial jeopardy.
What’s especially important is that we keep Medicare Advantage a sustainable and viable option for the future. As more people age into Medicare, having a program like this — which provides high-quality, affordable care — is going to be increasingly vital to our health care system overall. Without it, we would face even greater burdens on hospitals and emergency services, as seniors delay care due to costs or lack of coverage. Medicare Advantage has proven itself by lowering costs and improving health outcomes through preventative and coordinated care, and preserving it would save money for everyone in the long run.
As seniors, we’ve paid our dues, and we deserve health care that supports us in our later years. Medicare Advantage has shown that it’s possible to offer quality care at a reasonable cost. Our elected officials have the power to protect this program and ensure it continues to serve not only us but future generations as well. I urge Sen. Klobuchar, Rep. Craig, and Rep. Emmer to make protecting Medicare Advantage a priority as they head back to Washington. This program is one that works — let’s keep it that way for everyone’s sake.
In a time when prices are climbing across the board, we need Medicare Advantage more than ever. Cutting back now would be devastating to so many seniors who rely on it, and it would ultimately cost our health care system more in the long run. Medicare Advantage is a program worth protecting, and I hope our leaders will stand with us to make sure it remains affordable, accessible, and as effective as it has proven to be.
Doug Stovall lives in Eagan and is a retired manager of patient financial services for Park Nicollet Home Care, Hospice, and Community Care
