Congress, please protect senior health programs
As Congress reconvenes and maps out its policy priorities for 2024, there are a lot of issues to address. From the border to the economy, Americans are watching Congress to see what actions they will take to protect our nation and its citizens.
My hope is that protecting accessible health care will be a top concern. My concern is that funds to a great health care program may be in danger. That is why I want to encourage our lawmakers to defend Medicare Advantage plans, which are some of the most affordable and beneficial Medicare plans out there.
My husband and I moved to a Medicare Advantage plan a few years back, and this program truly delivers on the promise of being affordable while also providing high-quality care. One of the best aspects is these plans are designed to help keep us out of the hospital, which lowers health care costs for all Americans.
Medicare Advantage emphasizes preventative care, including staying active and keeping fit. They cover all kinds of programs designed to keep you healthy, including gym memberships. With access to regular check-ups and essential tests, our plan helps us maintain our health and helps us avoid any substantial medical procedures. These services come at no extra cost, so we don’t have to stress over draining our bank account just to manage our wellness.
When you do need to go to the hospital, like my husband did to get hip replacement surgery, our plan took care of just about every expense, including rehab and physical therapy.
Medicare Advantage plans also offer a variety of virtual care options, including online visits with doctors and nurses, and even online exercise classes. These are great when we are traveling, or for seniors who can’t drive to an appointment. Such innovative solutions that increase access to care are just one of many ways Medicare Advantage exemplifies its dedication to providing the best services to its enrollees.
We may be in our 70s, but our age hasn’t slowed us down. Our good health is allowing us to fully enjoy our retirement years. Good health is directly related to the quality and reliability of your health care. We’ve been extremely pleased with our health care coverage through Medicare Advantage over the past two years.
We know these plans aren’t for everyone. But it works for us. We are happy that we made the switch to Medicare Advantage, just like 32 million Americans have. This overwhelming satisfaction is felt by 94% of enrollees.
I’m concerned, though, that some in Congress are not hearing just how good these health plans are and may reduce critical funding. We need Nevada’s policymakers to safeguard this health program that is providing affordable quality care to over 270,000 Nevadans. If you like your Medicare Advantage plan, I urge you to contact our Federal officials and urge them to support funding.
I thank Senator Cortez Masto for being a strong advocate for Medicare Advantage and urge all Nevada congressional members to join her in supporting this program that is helping keep Nevada seniors healthier.
Maxine Harmatta lives in Reno and is a retired CFO of an international company.