BMA Advocates Tell Their Medicare Advantage Stories
Barbara F.
Prosser, WA
“In my case, I have several chronic health issues and if I didn’t have Medicare Advantage, I wouldn’t be able to pay my medical and medication costs on my own. … Continue reading "Barbara F."
“I have many pre-existing conditions at 78 yrs. old, and through Medicare Advantage I believe I have the best, most complete care, without it costing me or depleting my savings.”
“As we get older we need more care from doctors and health specialists and without Medicare Advantage we would not be able to see a doctor or a specialist because … Continue reading "Martha S."
Better Medicare Alliance is the nation’s leading research and advocacy organization supporting Medicare Advantage. Together, we are over 200 Ally organizations from across the healthcare spectrum and more than 1 million grassroots beneficiary advocates united in our mission to build a healthier future through a strong Medicare Advantage.
Leaders in Congress, the Administration, and communities nationwide know and trust our grassroots-driven advocacy to grow and strengthen Medicare Advantage.
WASHINGTON - Better Medicare Alliance, the nation’s leading research and advocacy organization supporting Medicare Advantage, today released the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2024 Medicare Advantage Rate…
WASHINGTON – Clinicians, health equity organizations, patient advocates, labor unions, and business associations representing millions of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to delay the agency’s proposed…
WASHINGTON – ATI Advisory today released a new independent analysis commissioned by Better Medicare Alliance that found Medicare Advantage beneficiaries report saving more than $2,400 annually on out-of-pocket costs and premiums compared to Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicare…
As of this writing, more than 1 million Americans have lost their lives due to COVID-19 – with seniors and those with disabilities among those most at-risk. Better Medicare Alliance advocates for solutions to ensure Medicare Advantage has the tools it needs to keep seniors safe in this uncertain time.
As a diverse community of Ally organizations and beneficiaries, Better Medicare Alliance has a keen focus on addressing racial disparities that persist across the health care spectrum and bringing the tools uniquely found in Medicare Advantage to bear in the effort to achieve true equality in health care.
In addition to individuals age 65 and older and people with disabilities, Medicare covers people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), also known as kidney failure. As of 2021, all FFS Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD are allowed to enroll in Medicare Advantage. While Better Medicare Alliance secured changes to improve care for ESRD beneficiaries, a payment gap remains that could result in Medicare Advantage failing to recoup the full cost of these beneficiaries' care. Accurate payment for ESRD enrollees protects all Medicare Advantage beneficiaries from higher costs or fewer opportunities to expand and improve supplemental benefits.
Telehealth is already improving access to health care across Medicare Advantage. In 2021, 94% of Medicare Advantage plans offer expanded telehealth benefits to keep seniors safe and healthy at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. A poll conducted by Morning Consult for Better Medicare Alliance finds that 91% of seniors on Medicare Advantage who use this technology report a positive experience.
Better Medicare Alliance is leading the charge for solutions to streamline the Medicare enrollment process and ensure that all beneficiaries understand the option of Medicare Advantage so they can be active choosers in their health coverage. Already, we've secured the addition of language in the annual "Medicare & You" handbook that includes easy-to-read, upfront comparisons of Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare. We also worked with leaders in Congress like Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) to urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to increase the number of languages used in Medicare’s educational and enrollment materials.
Value-Based Care
Medicare Advantage is built on a framework that aims to move Medicare from a volume-based to a value-based system. The capitated payment model in Medicare Advantage encourages a complete strategy of patient care to prevent unmanaged care that jumps from service to service.
With satisfaction from 9 out of 10 seniors and $1,965 a year in consumer savings compared to fee-for-service Medicare, Medicare Advantage is working. Join us in telling policymakers to protect Medicare Advantage for the 30 million diverse beneficiaries who count on its coverage and care.
Better Medicare Alliance partners with over 200 Ally organizations from across the healthcare spectrum – health providers, Medicare Advantage plans, community partners, area agencies on aging, and other stakeholders – to grow and strengthen Medicare Advantage.
Highlights from our 2022 Medicare Advantage Summit
Our 2022 Medicare Advantage Summit featured a two-day agenda that included a keynote interview with CMMI Director Dr. Liz Fowler, remarks from a bipartisan roster of Members of Congress, and panel discussions with top health care innovators. Catch up on all that you may have missed and make plans to join us again in 2023!