Prevention, Partnership, and Progress: Takeaways from the 2025 Medicare Advantage Leadership & Policy Forum

“I got into Medicare Advantage, and one of the biggest reasons is peace of mind. I don’t have to worry about my medical expenses; it’s a fixed cost every year. And it makes it easier for me to do the things I love to do.”

That reflection shared by Rob R. of Wisconsin, a Medicare Advantage beneficiary, set the tone for Better Medicare Alliance’s 2025 Forum on the kick-off day of Open Enrollment in the Medicare program for seniors. Across every conversation — policymakers, providers, advocates, plan leaders, and beneficiaries — the focus was clear: Protect Medicare Advantage’s affordability and quality so seniors can stay healthy and independent through chronic-disease prevention, public-private partnerships, and beneficiary-focused reforms.

In opening remarks, BMA President and CEO Mary Beth Donahue highlighted findings from the 2025 State of Medicare Advantage report — produced in partnership with ATI Advisory and first released at the forum —showing Medicare Advantage’s record of delivering lower costs, better outcomes, and higher satisfaction for more than 35 million Americans — now 56% of Medicare. Donahue went on to note the pressure seniors feel from rising costs and plan closures due to ongoing regulatory policy changes and cuts to Medicare Advantage, underscoring a simple charge: Protect what works, fix what doesn’t, and keep seniors at the center.

That spirit carried through the day. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz called this moment an “inflection point,” inviting collaboration to modernize the beneficiary experience with faster, more transparent processes — especially in prior authorization.

Oz said: “We do need it [prior authorization], but it’s got to be done the right way.” This approach is consistent with BMA’s strong support for bipartisan efforts to modernize prior authorization, including the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act.

Dr. Mark Fendrick of the University of Michigan, who moderated our value-based care discussion, reminded the room why this work matters: “in my opinion, there’s never been a better time to be a patient or a clinician… if we could all come together, the multiple constituents here, we could do better for our patients.” He added, “I represent patients… if we could really talk about how to put patients first, I think we would be better off.”

To that end, on a coordinated-care panel, leaders described how Medicare Advantage identifies risks early, connects seniors to in-home and community supports, and prevents avoidable hospitalizations. “It’s comprehensive, it moves us upstream, and it focuses on keeping people healthy and well,” said Dan Lowenstein of VNS Health. Dr. Heidi Schwarzwald of Signify Health emphasized that in-home health assessments are often the first step — “the chance to spend time and get that comprehensive look” — and explained how integrating data back into care teams, plus smarter use of AI and benefit navigation, can speed help to the home: “we might think—Mrs. Jones, after the assessment, you need a grab bar in the bathroom… we’re focused on making that connection faster.” Dr. Wyatt Decker of UnitedHealth Group closed by adding: “There’s a strong and growing body of evidence that Medicare Advantage, particularly when we have value-based care-focused providers, has better outcomes than Fee-for-Service.”

Policy voices, former CMS Administrator Nancy-Ann DeParle and American Action Forum President Douglas Holtz-Eakin, emphasized that Medicare Advantage is proving what policymakers have long sought — a model that rewards value, coordination, and accountability for results.

Dr. Darwin Hale of Advocate Health Advisors also spoke on how community-based agents empower seniors as they navigate the care environment.

Attendees also heard directly from four Medicare Advantage beneficiaries who shared how the program provides affordable, coordinated care that makes a real difference in seniors’ lives — stories that drew a standing ovation and offered a meaningful reminder of who the program ultimately serves.

Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.) reinforced that point, noting that about 65% of seniors in his district are enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

“Medicare Advantage is not just a topic of debate in Washington for me; it’s a lifeline for millions of seniors across our country.…it is Medicare. It’s what they know and what they trust.”

In a video message, Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.) urged transparency and fair comparisons, highlighting his Apples to Apples Comparison Act of 2025 to ensure CMS provides “the best information and more information” so seniors can make fully informed choices.

The forum closed with a shared purpose: Build on what works — affordable, comprehensive care and prevention that keeps people well, partnerships that strengthen trust and innovation, and improved progress in the Medicare Advantage program that ensures its stability, so that every senior can live with peace of mind, dignity, and choice.

Better Medicare Alliance thanks our Forum sponsors—Advocate Health Advisors, the Medicaid and Medicare Advantage Association of Puerto Rico, and BlueGenes—for sharing their perspectives from their work with beneficiaries and helping make this year’s event possible.