Press Releases
October 15, 2021

Better Medicare Alliance Lauds Bipartisan Letter from 13 Senators Supporting Medicare Advantage

Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) lead geographically and politically diverse coalition of Senators touting support for MA and warning against possible cuts to seniors’ coverage

Washington, D.C. – Better Medicare Alliance, the nation’s leading research and advocacy organization supporting Medicare Advantage, applauded a bipartisan Senate letter sent today to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure expressing strong support for Medicare Advantage and praising its “first-rate coverage to an increasingly diverse population.” 

The letter, led by Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) and co-signed by 11 of their Senate colleagues representing a diversity of geographic regions and political views, goes on to warn against potential cuts to seniors’ Medicare Advantage coverage.

“We stand ready to protect MA from payment cuts, which could lead to higher costs and premiums, reduce vital benefits, and undermine advances made to improve health outcomes and health equity for MA enrollees,” the letter explains.

“On behalf of the 27 million seniors and individuals with disabilities who entrust their care to Medicare Advantage today, we thank Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Tim Scott (R-SC), and their 11 co-signers for their unwavering leadership. Each of these lawmakers are true champions for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries,” said Mary Beth Donahue, President and CEO of the Better Medicare Alliance. “The diversity of support behind this letter – encompassing Senators from all sides of the political spectrum and every geographic region of the country – is a powerful testament to Medicare Advantage’s role as a unifying and bipartisan health care success story that deserves our protection.” 

Donahue continued, “As these Senators well know, and their letter makes clear, none of us can relent in our work to protect Medicare Advantage beneficiaries’ coverage from harm. Better Medicare Alliance is committed to ensuring that no beneficiary is subjected to higher costs or reduced benefits – especially now, as seniors begin to re-emerge from the worst challenges of COVID-19. We are deeply grateful to have these Senators’ partnership in this effort.”

Read the letter HERE. A full list of signers is provided below:

  • Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)
  • Tim Scott (R-SC)
  • Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
  • Gary Peters (D-MI)
  • Todd Young (R-IN)
  • Jon Tester (D-MT)
  • Marco Rubio (R-FL)
  • Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
  • Joe Manchin (D-WV)
  • Angus King (I-ME)
  • Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
  • Deb Fischer (R-NE)
  • Mark Kelly (D-AZ)

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