CMS Underfunds Medicare Advantage: Seniors Speak Out

0:00Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced their raising payments to Medicare Advantage plans by just 0.09% next year. That's for 2020-27, even though their own data shows health care costs climbing around 7% over the past couple years. For the millions of seniors and disabled patients relying on these plans, it's way short of what's needed. This tiny bump basically acts like a cut when costs keep soaring. Without a serious fix, plans can't maintain the same level of care, and we've been here before under past funding squeezes that led to slimmer, benefits, and higher premiums. Beneficiaries are speaking out loud and clear. Poles from this year reveal 85% satisfaction with their Medicare Advantage coverage. More than 9 out of 10 seniors call it a straight cost of living hit, and 3-4 say they drop support for any lawmaker pushing these, under funds. Every backs up the worry, consecutive shortfalls years back shrink options and jacked up costs

1:00for everyone enrolled. Right now, politicians are noticed, especially with seniors as one of the biggest voting forces around. Lawmakers like Senators Britton Tuberville should team up with CMS to boost that rate before it sticks. Protecting Medicare Advantage isn't just smart policy, it's how you keep trust with folks who need it most. That's the story for today. Birmingham News Today, Driven by AI, I'm Corey with The Story.