Better Medicare Alliance Statement on 2027 Medicare Advantage Advance Notice

WASHINGTON — Better Medicare Alliance (BMA), 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’ 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Advance Notice:

“Today’s Advance Notice falls short of what is needed to provide stability for the more than 35 million Americans who rely on Medicare Advantage,” said Mary Beth Donahue, President and CEO of Better Medicare Alliance. “After years of underinvestment, seniors are already feeling the strain of rising health care costs. A proposal that results in effectively flat funding does not keep pace with rising medical costs and utilization, making it more difficult for plans to keep premiums affordable and maintain the supplemental benefits beneficiaries value most.

“As CMS works toward the Final Rate Notice, it is critical that payment policies fully and accurately account for the care Medicare Advantage beneficiaries receive. BMA will continue to review the Advance Notice and work with CMS and Congress to push for the changes necessary to protect affordable coverage and preserve access to high-quality care for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.”

More than half of Medicare-eligible Americans choose Medicare Advantage for high-quality health care at a lower cost than traditional Fee-For-Service Medicare. At a time of rising health care costs, Medicare Advantage beneficiaries save nearly $3,500 a year compared to traditional Fee-For-Service Medicare, while receiving important benefits such as dental, vision, and hearing coverage at no extra cost.

However, millions of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are experiencing higher out-of-pocket costs, fewer health benefits, and reduced individual plan choices this year following years of destabilizing policy changes and funding cuts. This underscores the need for stability in the Medicare Advantage program with adequate funding to meet rising costs and utilization.

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Better Medicare Alliance is a community of hundreds of thousands of grassroots beneficiaries and 200+ ally organizations working to improve health care through a strong Medicare Advantage. Learn more at bettermedicarealliance.org.