Category: Monthly Advocacy Update

Better Medicare Alliance Advocacy Update – September 2019

Note from Congresswoman Schwartz

Hello BMA advocates!

Have you heard the news?  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published information on Medicare Advantage plan premiums and offerings for 2020 enrollment. CMS found that the Medicare Advantage average monthly premium is expected to decrease by 14% next year, hitting the lowest premium cost in 13 years!

This is great news for seniors and individuals with disabilities enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans nationwide! In a time of premium increases in other markets, premiums in Medicare Advantage will remain low, while plan choices and benefits continue to expand.

In 2020, enrollment in Medicare Advantage is expected to reach 40% of all Medicare-eligible individuals to a total of over 24 million people.  This growth is a testament to the value Medicare Advantage provides, offering high-quality care at affordable costs.

At BMA, we recognize the importance of making sure beneficiaries are equipped with comprehensive, accurate information about their Medicare coverage options to inform enrollment decisions in a way that best meets their health and financial needs.  We believe all Medicare beneficiaries should be active choosers of their care.   As the annual Open Enrollment Period approaches, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with available tools and resources designed to make comparing your options easier.

Recently, CMS updated the Medicare Plan Finder, an online tool where you can explore and compare plans available in your area.  BMA actively participated in the revision process, citing your experiences and concerns in the recommendations we offered to CMS to improve the Plan Finder. We are happy to report that the new Plan Finder tool is much more user friendly.  If you have a MyMedicare account, you can now pull directly from your claims data to build an accurate drug list. Validated users also have access to 24/7 web chat assistance to help with both technical and enrollment questions.

In addition to the Plan Finder, you will likely soon be receiving the 2020 Medicare & You Handbook, which is updated annually to assist beneficiaries with enrollment decisions. Using the Handbook, you can learn more about Medicare coverage options, the Open Enrollment Process, and what services are covered under Medicare. Your feedback on the Handbook offered in the last few years has helped BMA propose changes to improve the Handbook. We are currently viewing the Handbook and are pleased to see how our recommendations were implemented by CMS.

Finally, are you looking for a quick reference to get some easy and understandable information on your Medicare options before Open Enrollment?  We suggest our BMA Open Enrollment Guide. The BMA Guide provides a comprehensive overview of key differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage to help you make an informed choice during the enrollment period. We update this guide regularly, so check back to find our most recent edition prior to Open Enrollment.

If you utilize any of these resources to gather information and compare Medicare choices this fall, we’d love to hear your feedback. Send our team an email at community@bettermedicarealliance.org to help us improve them in ways that meet your needs.

Thank you for your advocacy for Medicare Advantage and our efforts here at BMA!

Sincerely,

Allyson Y. Schwartz
President & CEO, Better Medicare Alliance

HIT Update

With members back in Washington following the August recess, BMA continues to advocate for suspension of the Health Insurance Tax (HIT).  The HIT, which could increase health care costs or reduce access to supplemental benefits for seniors on Medicare Advantage, was recently reviewed by a Task Force of the Senate Finance Committee.  BMA advocates took the opportunity to make their voices heard by members of the Task Force, sending more than 1,015 letters urging members to #StoptheHITonSeniors.

The Committee Task Force was charged with identifying long-term solutions for six unique health taxes.  In its recent report, the Task Force did not come to a consensus on how to address the tax provisions, but one thing was made very clear: none of the participating parties advocated for continuation of the HIT.

Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who have led efforts to delay and/or repeal the HIT in the Senate, urged their colleagues to take immediate action to prevent higher costs from being passed down to consumers.  BMA recognizes their advocacy on behalf of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, and encourages advocates residing in Colorado or New Hampshire to join us on Twitter to thank Senator Shaheen and Senator Gardner for their support of the coverage seniors choose.

Don’t live in Colorado or New Hampshire?  It is still critically important that we keep up the pressure on Congress to delay or repeal the HIT. If you are concerned about the tax impacting your coverage, we encourage you to speak out. Call or write your members of Congress – whether for the first time, or to reach out again. Write a letter to the editor and make sure other Medicare beneficiaries in your area understand the HIT and how it could impact their lives. Visit our website for more information on the HIT to help you effectively address this issue with lawmakers.

Featured Advocacy Action

At BMA, we value your stories and experiences with Medicare Advantage to help support our outreach to members of Congress and their staff.  We know beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage represent a diverse group of seniors and individuals with disabilities from across the country, and we work hard to demonstrate how Medicare Advantage offers the quality care you need.  Your feedback— in your own words– makes the difference.  That’s why we’ve been collecting stories from advocates nationwide.

We are extremely close to having collected wonderful advocate stories from all fifty states, but we need your help to make sure every state is included. If you live in the following states, head to medicaremyway.com to share your Medicare Advantage story today!

Alaska

Delaware

Hawaii

Minnesota

New Hampshire

Nebraska

North Dakota

Vermont

West Virginia

Wyoming

Our Top Advocates

  • Judith C. (Carmel, CA)
  • Luther A. (Fillmore, CA)
  • Maryann V. (San Bernardino, CA)

BMA Ambassadors work directly with BMA to further engage in advocacy activities, like hosting events, recruiting new members, and contacting Congress.

The Better Medicare Alliance Ambassador Facebook Group is a self-selected committee of the Better Medicare Alliance’s most engaged senior advocates dedicated to strengthening health care for seniors and people with disabilities who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

 

Better Medicare Alliance Advocacy Update – July 2019

Note from Congresswoman Schwartz

Hello BMA Advocates!

Since 1966, Medicare has provided critical health and economic security for America’s seniors and their families. As we reflect on Medicare’s success in recognition of the program’s 54th anniversary, we also see new opportunities and challenges in meeting the needs and expectations of today’s Medicare beneficiaries. With 10,000 new seniors becoming eligible for Medicare every day, this new generation of older adults have different needs than those of 50 years ago when the main concern was coverage for hospital costs for acute illness. Given the advancements in treatments and cures, we are living longer, and many seniors are healthier than ever.

Yet, many are also living with complex chronic conditions and managing their medical and non-clinical needs is more important than ever. Fortunately, Medicare has changed over the decades to meet these needs. Part D coverage for prescription drugs was one of those changes, as was the option of Medicare Advantage, which is uniquely designed to care for seniors today. Attention to care coordination, preventive services and early intervention offered by Medicare Advantage are effective steps to help those living with chronic diseases manage their care and life healthier lives. With innovative solutions and a focus on value-based care, Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) believes Medicare Advantage is the future of Medicare and offers a model for the nation.

In July, thought leaders, plans, providers and community partners in health care from across the country convened in Washington for BMA’s 2019 Medicare Advantage Summit. Over two days, we discussed the future of Medicare and highlighted the unique capacity of Medicare Advantage to meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities. With outstanding speakers, including Secretary Alex Azar of Health and Human Services, Administrator Seema Verma of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Adam Boehler of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Bruce Broussard, CEO of Humana, and Larry Merlo, CEO Of CVS Health, participants explored opportunities to improve patient care, remove barriers to care, and reduce health disparities. Over 250 individuals attended the Summit, with more than 36% traveling from out of state to take part in this one of a kind opportunity to learn more about Medicare Advantage.

BMA Summit Photos

With the help of this community, BMA has been educating members and cultivating strong bipartisan support for Medicare Advantage in Congress. In July, BMA hosted an educational briefing for Congressional staff, unveiling new data that show the critical role Medicare Advantage plays in serving an increasingly diverse population of beneficiaries and shielding low and modest-income individuals from high-out-of-pocket costs. The briefing, entitled Medicare Advantage: Enrollment and Demographic Trends, included a presentation by Anne Tumlinson of Anne Tumlinson Innovations and a panel discussion with three BMA ally organizations: Meals on Wheels, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and the National Minority Quality Forum. BMA Medicare Advantage Champions Representatives Tony Cardenas (D-CA) and Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) also addressed the crowd, urging Congressional staff to learn more about Medicare Advantage. We are excited to report that the event was widely attended, with nearly 100 Congressional staffers joining to learn more about demographic trends and consumer cost protections in Medicare Advantage.

BMA Congressional briefing

In April, we reached out to you about a proposal to eliminate drug rebates in Medicare, which would have raised the cost of premiums for seniors on Medicare Advantage. Seniors like you spoke out to protect Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, sending nearly 3,000 letters to Congress opposing the proposal and calling on lawmakers to tell the Administration to protect affordable prescription drug coverage for all beneficiaries. In July, we saw your hard work pay off, as the Administration withdrew the proposal after listening to groups like BMA and our senior advocates. This victory on behalf of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries proves how critical your voice is to protect high-quality, affordable health coverage available with Medicare Advantage.

Thank you for speaking out to support and improve Medicare Advantage!

Sincerely,

Allyson Y. Schwartz
President & CEO

Active Choosers Participate in BMA Medicare Academy Month

By Daniella Chambers, BMA Advocacy Manager

Throughout July, seniors and beneficiaries with disabilities across the country competed to expand their knowledge of Medicare Advantage as part of Medicare Academy Month. This educational series provided Medicare-eligible seniors the chance to learn more about their Medicare choices, and gave BMA advocates and ambassadors an opportunity to learn new information through participation in weekly activities and quizzes.

Participation in Medicare Academy Month was phenomenal! Over 73,000 advocates tuned in to the series to learn more about Medicare Advantage by viewing graphics and short videos on Facebook and over 150 advocates competed for prizes by completing weekly quizzes.

With all points totaled, BMA congratulates the following advocates for their success in learning more about Medicare Advantage during Medicare Academy Month:

Thank you to everyone who participated throughout the month of July! Your dedication to learning more about Medicare Advantage and enhancing your role as an active chooser is so encouraging and much appreciated.

Looking to share what you learned with others? You can access resources from Medicare Academy Month online any time. Visit our website for more information.

Continued Advocacy During August Recess

During the month of August, members of Congress head out of Washington to return to their home districts. Many will be meeting with their constituents. Recess provides great opportunities for you to make sure your members understand and support Medicare Advantage by connecting with them locally!

To find events in your area, check out Town Hall Project, a web resource dedicated to helping you locate upcoming events with your elected officials. Want more information on Medicare Advantage to prepare for your discussions? Visit our website, where you can find our advocacy toolkit and other resources.

If you attend a townhall or event with your members during the August recess, we would love to hear about your experience! Contact us by email at community@bettermedicarealliance.org and we will connect for more information about the event and the feedback you received.

Join Our Task Forces

* Join our Medicare My Way Task Force

* Join our Medicare Advantage Retiree Plans Task Force

* Join the Keep Our Prescription Drugs Affordable Task Force

* Join the Protect Our Care Task Force

* Join our Chronic Disease Task Force

Featured Action: Share Your Story

BMA is proud to be a leading source for information on beneficiary experience in Medicare Advantage. Through your stories, comments, and letters, you help us understand what works well and where we as a community can advocate for improvements. This information is critical as we work to shape the future of Medicare today and in the days to come.

Our Top Advocates

  • Jose D. (Hialeah, FL)
  • Susan B. (Jefferson, TX)
  • Sharon R. (Fort Worth, TX)

BMA Ambassadors work directly with BMA to further engage in advocacy activities, like hosting events, recruiting new members, and contacting Congress.

The Better Medicare Alliance Ambassador Facebook Group is a self-selected committee of the Better Medicare Alliance’s most engaged senior advocates dedicated to strengthening health care for seniors and people with disabilities who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

 

Better Medicare Alliance Advocacy Update – June 2019

Note from Congresswoman Schwartz

Hello BMA Advocates!

Did you know that by 2030, all baby boomers will be older than age 65? One in every five residents will be over 65 years and Medicare enrollment will have doubled to over 40 million individuals.

Currently, Medicare Advantage provides coverage for over 22 million seniors and individuals with disabilities nationwide. As more and more individuals become eligible for Medicare coverage, it is important that they know their options and actively choose how to access their health benefits. Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) believes the 116th Congress provides us a unique opportunity to expand beneficiary knowledge of Medicare Advantage and to work with regulators at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve educational decision-making tools for beneficiaries.

Thanks to your willingness to share your stories, we understand the challenges many beneficiaries face when exploring their Medicare coverage options. We recognize that clear and complete information on Medicare Advantage is needed to make informed decisions about your coverage.

We have used your feedback to inform our advocacy with CMS. In 2017 and 2018, BMA sent recommendations to improve several beneficiary decision-making tools and educational materials. We highlighted ways to make the information on the differences between Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage clearer, more user-friendly, more accurate, and unbiased. And, CMS has been responsive, making changes in the 2018 and 2019 Handbook to make the choices available clearer and easier to understand.

Recently, BMA participated in a preview of the new Medicare Plan Finder, a web tool used to explore options and enroll in Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. We are encouraged by proposed changes made by CMS to improve user experience and ensure beneficiaries are aware of their Medicare choices. We were pleased to see that a good number of the changes were consistent with our recommendations! BMA’s input, based on your comments to us, made a difference!

CMS plans to launch the revised Plan Finder before Open Enrollment this fall. To receive updates on changes to the Medicare Plan Finder, sign up for the Medicare My Way Task Force today! Thank you so much for your involvement.

Your engagement, as well the active involvement of the organizations that make up our alliance make us who we are as BMA and inform and amplify our advocacy for Medicare Advantage. BMA has over 130 ally organizations and they include health providers, health plans, service organizations, and professional associations on the national, state and local levels. This month, BMA recognized the efforts of our ally organizations at our Annual Ally Dinner in Washington, D.C. The event was well -attended, and we thank Fran Soistman, Executive Vice President and Head of Government Services at Aetna for addressing the crowd to encourage continued collaboration and success on behalf of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries like you.

Thank you for using your voice to support and improve Medicare Advantage!

Sincerely,

Allyson Y. Schwartz
President & CEO
Better Medicare Alliance

Seniors Spur Senate to Review HIT

By Daniella Chambers, BMA Advocacy Manager

With 2020 Open Enrollment quickly approaching, thousands of BMA advocates have called on members of Congress to delay the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) and protect seniors and individuals with disabilities from rising plan premiums. We are pleased to note your voices are making a difference.

In June, the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) announced that delay of the HIT would be included in a proposed tax bill. In addition, the Chairman of the Committee added the HIT to a list of health fees a special Task force will review for long-term fixes. Task force members Senators Patrick Toomey (R-PA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Mark Warner (D-VA) are charged with evaluating the tax and finding a more permanent solution, which may include options to phase out, scale back, or elimination of the tax.

Nationwide, 22 million Medicare Advantage beneficiaries rely on Congress to keep their health care costs affordable. If the HIT goes into effect in 2020, millions of Americans on Medicare Advantage plans could face premium increases of $250 or more per year. BMA supports efforts to delay the HIT through 2021 or permanently repeal the tax. Repealing or delaying the HIT is the most direct way for Congress to prevent a spike in premiums.

We continue to call for delay or repeal of the HIT and have written to the Committee urging them to act to avoid increases in premiums. For more information, read our letter to Senate Finance and join the Medicare My Way Task Force today to receive updates on the HIT.

Join Our Task Forces

* Join our Medicare My Way Task Force

* Join our Medicare Advantage Retiree Plans Task Force

* Join the Keep Our Prescription Drugs Affordable Task Force

* Join the Protect Our Care Task Force

* Join our Chronic Disease Task Force

Looking Ahead: Medicare Academy Month

You won’t want to miss the activities in store as we celebrate Medicare Academy Month! Join BMA on Facebook every week during July for new articles and activities on the biggest topics in Medicare Advantage. Test your knowledge with weekly quizzes and see how your scores stack up against top advocates in our community as you compete for prizes! For more information and updates follow us on Facebook today.

Our Top Advocates

    • Richard B. (Fort Lauderdale, FL.)
    • Carol F. (Herndon, VA.)
    • Michael H. (Salem, OR.)

BMA Ambassadors work directly with BMA to further engage in advocacy activities, like hosting events, recruiting new members, and contacting Congress.

The Better Medicare Alliance Ambassador Facebook Group is a self-selected committee of the Better Medicare Alliance’s most engaged senior advocates dedicated to strengthening health care for seniors and people with disabilities who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage. Join us on Facebook and become part of BMA’s inner circle of advocates.

Better Medicare Alliance is a Twitter leader in discussions about Medicare Advantage and health care for our nation’s seniors. Follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on Medicare Advantage news.

Better Medicare Alliance Advocacy Update – May 2019

Note from Congresswoman Schwartz

Hello BMA Advocates!

The health care needs of older adults continue to change, as more than half of the Medicare-eligible population experiences multiple chronic conditions. In May, a new report from Avalere Health found that Medicare Advantage outperforms traditional Medicare in caring for dual eligible beneficiaries with chronic conditions. These beneficiaries had 41.1% fewer emergency room visits, 32.9% lower rates of hospitalization, and 11.7% more office visits than their peers enrolled in traditional Medicare. Additionally, they experienced significantly fewer complications, while costing the system 16.7% less.

These findings are consistent with previous reports and they are good news for beneficiaries. BMA uses such findings to advocate for the care and services available in Medicare Advantage that benefit 22 million beneficiaries in MA, including those with multiple chronic conditions. We also use such findings to inform policymakers about the benefits of Medicare Advantage. Together, with your stories, they show that Medicare Advantage is important to those covered by Medicare Advantage today and is a model for providing high-quality care at an affordable cost.

Recently, thanks to your letters, comments, and stories, BMA was able to provide the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) feedback on the “Medicare & You 2020 Handbook.” As Medicare-eligible beneficiaries rely on the Handbook to make a choice of how to receive their Medicare benefits, this was an important opportunity to comment on this resource that seniors and individuals with disabilities rely to get complete and accurate information about their Medicare coverage options. We look forward to assessing the handbook revisions as they are available to identify changes and note areas for improvement to ensure the right information is available to all eligible enrollees.

Toward that purpose, BMA was also pleased by efforts in the House of Representatives to improve Medicare’s educational and enrollment materials. Led by Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), 62 members of the House signed a letter to CMS urging the agency to begin translating key documents into additional languages beyond English and Spanish. BMA was actively involved in this effort and we applaud Congressman Gomez for his leadership in calling for increasing language access in Medicare education and outreach materials. This action encourages CMS to enable millions of beneficiaries to better understand and act on the choices they have in Medicare coverage and benefits. To receive updates on these efforts, become a member of the Medicare My Way Task Force today!

Thank you for standing up for the care seniors choose with Medicare Advantage. You continue to make a difference in Washington and across the country as committed BMA advocates.

Sincerely,

Allyson Y. Schwartz
President & CEO
Better Medicare Alliance

Celebrating Our Senior Community: Older Americans Month 2019

By Daniella Chambers, BMA Advocacy Manager

Established in 1963, Older Americans Month is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of older persons to our country. It is also a time to consider the challenges facing aging Americans and focus on improving services to meet their needs.

Every May, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) leads the national observance of Older Americans Month/strong>. Organizations across the country celebrate and pay tribute to older adults in their communities with special ceremonies and activities. This year, the theme of Older Americans Month was Connect, Create, Contribute. Communities were encouraged to engage and support older adults and recognize the many ways in which they shape our lives.

Throughout the month of May, Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) celebrated our senior community of over 400,000 advocates nationwide. In keeping with the 2019 theme of Older Americans Month, we shared resources focused on healthy aging, senior connection, and service. We also sought to learn more about members of our community through a variety of polls, surveys, and discussions across our social media channels.

BMA thanks all members of our beneficiary community for their contribution to our efforts to protect and improve Medicare Advantage during Older Americans Month and throughout the year. We value your insight and feedback as we work to shape the future of Medicare.

Join Our Task Forces

* Join our Medicare My Way Task Force

* Join our Medicare Advantage Retiree Plans Task Force

* Join the Keep Our Prescription Drugs Affordable Task Force

* Join the Protect Our Care Task Force

* Join our Chronic Disease Task Force

Update on HIT

In May, Better Medicare Alliance led a Senior Week of Action to stop the Health Insurance Tax (HIT). Thousands of BMA advocates wrote to Congress about the importance of suspending the HIT, and fourteen advocates published letters to the editor in their local newspaper. Click here to read their letters and learn more about the HIT Week of Action.

Looking Ahead

Join BMA throughout the month of July to learn and test your knowledge of Medicare Advantage! During Medicare Academy Month, BMA will host a series of digital activities to help you learn more and stay up to date on your understanding of Medicare Advantage and improve your ability to advocate for this high-quality, affordable care seniors choose. Follow us on Facebook for more information and to participate in weekly challenges with other advocates in our community!

Our Top Advocates

  • Miriam T. (Hershey, PA.)
  • Karen K. (Pittsburgh, PA.)
  • Diana C. (Palm Beach Gardens, FL.)

BMA Ambassadors work directly with BMA to further engage in advocacy activities, like hosting events, recruiting new members, and contacting Congress.

The Better Medicare Alliance Ambassador Facebook Group is a self-selected committee of the Better Medicare Alliance’s most engaged senior advocates dedicated to strengthening health care for seniors and people with disabilities who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage. Join us on Facebook and become part of BMA’s inner circle of advocates.

Better Medicare Alliance is a Twitter leader in discussions about Medicare Advantage and health care for our nation’s seniors. Follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on Medicare Advantage news.

Better Medicare Alliance Advocacy Update – April 2019

Note from Congresswoman Schwartz
Hello BMA Advocates!

With over 100 new members now serving as part of the 116th Congress and the issue of health care reform taking high priority, Members and their staff are looking for information and resources to inform their policy decisions. As experts on Medicare Advantage, BMA welcomes this opportunity to inform and galvanize support for the care seniors choose.

In April, we hosted a Hill briefing for Congressional Staff titled Medicare Advantage 101: A Primer. The event introduced fundamental concepts in Medicare Advantage, highlighted the differences between Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare, and explained the Medicare Advantage payment model. A panel of BMA Allies representing the American Medical Group Association (AMGA), Oak Street Health, and the Teacher’s Retirement System of Kentucky followed and shared insights on care provided under Medicare Advantage, improved health outcomes, and information on how Medicare Advantage is working to address health disparities and address the full health needs of patients.

We are happy to note that this event was widely attended! Over 80 participants joined us to learn more about the high-quality, affordable care available with Medicare Advantage plans. These participants represented more than 45 House and Senate offices. These are offices BMA will look to as we build support for Medicare Advantage. The briefing was a great first step toward increasing understanding and bi-partisan support for Medicare Advantage.

This month, we also took to the road to share information on Medicare Advantage! BMA was a proud sponsor of Aging in America 2019, hosted by the American Society on Aging. The conference, which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, featured a diverse line-up of speakers and exhibitors dedicated to addressing the needs of seniors nationwide.

BMA was happy to participate in the session called “Panel of Pundits” and as an exhibitor, sharing your stories and information on Medicare Advantage with a variety of providers, community-based organizations and researchers.

We look forward to additional opportunities to share information on Medicare Advantage here in Washington and across the country. Thank you for informing our efforts and for your commitment to high-quality, affordable care with Medicare Advantage.

Sincerely,

Allyson Y. Schwartz
President & CEO
Better Medicare Alliance

Congressional Action Still Needed to Protect Seniors from HIT

By Daniella Chambers, BMA Advocacy Manager

With the introduction of new legislation at the end of February, BMA advocates were busy in March urging members of Congress to support efforts to delay the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) by co-sponsoring Senate Bill 172 and House Bill 1398. To date, our community has sent 21,839 letters to Congress and written 119 letters to the editor as part of our #StopTheHITOnSeniors campaign!

We know that if the HIT goes into effect in 2020, it would result in increases to plan premiums, fewer cost sharing reductions that help beneficiaries, and reductions in supplemental benefits provided under plans. Research suggests that the average couple on Medicare Advantage can expect plan premiums to increase by approximately $500 annually.

More than half of all Medicare Advantage beneficiaries live on less than $30,000 a year and most live on fixed incomes. This is why it is so critical that we continue to pressure Congress to act on Senate Bill 172 and House Bill 1398. Suspending the HIT for 2020 is one of the most direct ways Congress can provide financial relief for seniors and disabled individuals who rely on Medicare Advantage plans. But they need to act quickly to prevent premiums from rising.

Make sure you’ve signed our #StopTheHITOnSeniors petition to urge members of Congress to co-sponsor S. 172 and H.R. 1398. Then, share the petition with your friends and family! The more support for these bills Congress hears from beneficiaries like you, the more likely they are to take action and delay the HIT!

Join Our Task Forces

* Join our Medicare My Way Task Force

* Join our Medicare Advantage Retiree Plans Task Force

* Join the Keep Our Prescription Drugs Affordable Task Force

* Join the Protect Our Care Task Force

* Join our Chronic Disease Task Force

Featured Action of the Month: Story Bank

BMA is proud to be a leading source for information on beneficiary experience in Medicare Advantage plans. Through your stories, comments, and letters, you help us understand what works well across plans and where we as a community can advocate for improvements. This information is critical as we work to shape the future of Medicare today and in the days to come.

Share your Medicare Advantage story today to help us inform decisions that impact Medicare Advantage coverage for over 22 million beneficiaries nationwide!

Our Top Advocates

  • Carol F. (Herndon, VA.)
  • Donald J. (Marietta, GA.)
  • Ed M. (Alexandria, KY.)

BMA Ambassadors work directly with BMA to further engage in advocacy activities, like hosting events, recruiting new members, and contacting Congress.

The Better Medicare Alliance Ambassador Facebook Group is a self-selected committee of the Better Medicare Alliance’s most engaged senior advocates dedicated to strengthening health care for seniors and people with disabilities who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage. Join us on Facebook and become part of BMA’s inner circle of advocates.

Better Medicare Alliance is a Twitter leader in discussions about Medicare Advantage and health care for our nation’s seniors. Follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on Medicare Advantage news.

Better Medicare Alliance Advocacy Update – March 2019

Note from Congresswoman Schwartz

Hello BMA Advocates!

With over 100 new members now serving as part of the 116th Congress and the issue of health care reform taking high priority, Members and their staff are looking for information and resources to inform their policy decisions. As experts on Medicare Advantage, BMA welcomes this opportunity to inform and galvanize support for the care seniors choose.

In April, we hosted a Hill briefing for Congressional Staff titled Medicare Advantage 101: A Primer. The event introduced fundamental concepts in Medicare Advantage, highlighted the differences between Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare, and explained the Medicare Advantage payment model. A panel of BMA Allies representing the American Medical Group Association (AMGA), Oak Street Health, and the Teacher’s Retirement System of Kentucky followed and , shared insights on care provided under Medicare Advantage, improved health outcomes, and information on how Medicare Advantage is working to address health disparities and address the full health needs of patients.

We are happy to note that this event was widely attended! Over 80 participants joined us to learn more about the high-quality, affordable care available with Medicare Advantage plans. These participants represented more than 45 House and Senate offices. these are offices BMA will look to as we build support for Medicare Advantage. The briefing was a great first step towards increasing understanding and bi-partisan support for Medicare Advantage.

This month, we also took to the road to share information on Medicare Advantage! BMA was a proud sponsor of Aging in America 2019, hosted by the American Society on Aging. The conference, which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, featured a diverse line-up of speakers and exhibitors dedicated to addressing the needs of seniors nationwide.

BMA was happy to participate in the session called “Panel of Pundits” and as an exhibitor, sharing your stories and information on Medicare Advantage with a variety of providers, community-based organizations and researchers.

We look forward to additional opportunities to share information on Medicare Advantage here in Washington and across the country. Thank you for informing our efforts and for your commitment to high-quality, affordable care with Medicare Advantage.

Sincerely,

Allyson Y. Schwartz
President & CEO
Better Medicare Alliance

The Administration is considering a proposed rule that would eliminate current drug rebates, a tool used by health plans to negotiate lower prices on prescription drugs from drug manufacturers. BMA recognizes that the high cost of prescription drugs remains a serious concern for beneficiaries nationwide. However, we have serious concerns about the effect this rule would have in increasing premiums and reducing benefits for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, without addressing the root cause of high drug prices – list prices set by the manufacturer.

The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on prescription drug coverage on April 9, 2019, where a panel of five Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) executives answered questions on their role in the drug pricing system. In advance of the hearing, BMA’s community of advocates sent 2,953 letters to Committee members urging them to #ProtectMAPD.

Join Our Task Forces

* Join our Medicare My Way Task Force

* Join our Medicare Advantage Retiree Plans Task Force

* Join the Keep Our Prescription Drugs Affordable Task Force

* Join the Protect Our Care Task Force

* Join our Chronic Disease Task Force

Featured Action of the Month: Keep Our Prescription Drugs Affordable Task Force

The Administration is considering a proposed rule that would eliminate current drug rebates, a tool used by health plans to negotiate lower prices on prescription drugs from drug manufacturers. BMA recognizes that the high cost of prescription drugs remains a serious concern for beneficiaries nationwide. However, we have serious concerns about the effect this rule would have in increasing premiums and reducing benefits for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, without addressing the root cause of high drug prices – list prices set by the manufacturer.

The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on prescription drug coverage on April 9, 2019, where a panel of five Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) executives answered questions on their role in the drug pricing system. In advance of the hearing, BMA’s community of advocates sent 2,953 letters to Committee members urging them to #ProtectMAPD.

In the coming months, we will have more information on these proposed changes and their impact on your Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug coverage. To stay informed, join the Keep Our Prescription Drugs Affordable task force today!

Our Top Advocates

  • Ally S. (Pleasant Grove, UT)
  • Myrta R. (Houston, TX)
  • Harry G. (Kingsport, TN)

BMA Ambassadors work directly with BMA to further engage in advocacy activities, like hosting events, recruiting new members, and contacting Congress.

The Better Medicare Alliance Ambassador Facebook Group is a self-selected committee of the Better Medicare Alliance’s most engaged senior advocates dedicated to strengthening health care for seniors and people with disabilities who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage. Join us on Facebook and become part of BMA’s inner circle of advocates.

Better Medicare Alliance is a Twitter leader in discussions about Medicare Advantage and health care for our nation’s seniors. Follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on Medicare Advantage news.