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This is a guest opinion column At Inside Medicine, we share insights and content covering what works in health care — and what doesn’t. Some of the most powerful compelling stories we hear come from older Alabamians who face greater health care challenges and access issues. These are people who worked hard their whole lives, raised families, and strengthened our communities. Now, they just want the security of knowing their health care is there when they need it. For more than 680,000 Alabamians, that peace of mind comes from Medicare Advantage. The program offers seniors and patients with disabilities more choices, lower costs, and better results than traditional, fee-for-service Medicare alone. Medicare Advantage helps people stay healthy, not just get treated when something goes wrong. This is done by covering services regular Medicare often doesn’t, such as rides to appointments or deliver meals after a hospital stay. While those may sound like small things, they are a lifesaver for seniors and patients with disabilities. These additional benefits help people stay independent and part of their communities. The extra support from a Medicare Advantage plan can mean the difference between seniors getting care or going without. That’s especially true in a state like Alabama where many live far from the nearest clinic. Unfortunately, that peace of mind is at risk. Medicare Advantage continues to be a popular target for lawmakers. Under the previous administration, the program faced years of funding cuts that were shown to weaken benefits and increase costs for seniors. Now it looks like parts of Medicare Advantage could soon be on the chopping block again. Lawmakers in Congress recently introduced the No UPCODE Act, a flawed bill that would make cuts to Medicare Advantage. The Congressional Budget Office suggests policies like this will lead to higher premiums and fewer benefits. These cuts would hurt real people, particularly Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and the loving caregivers who make sure they are taken care of. Claims that the No UPCODE Act is about saving money are either misguided or disingenuous. Cutting Medicare Advantage isn’t fiscal responsibility, it’s shortsighted, period. This program keeps people out of the hospital, saves on emergency visits, and helps manage chronic illnesses before they spiral out of control. It saves money by keeping people healthy, not by cutting corners. The truth is, Medicare Advantage has broad, bipartisan support. The vast majority of seniors (82%), say that cuts to the program would hurt their financial security. Additionally, nearly seven in ten say they wouldn’t be as open to supporting a member of Congress who backed those cuts. Seniors know what’s at stake, and so should lawmakers. In Alabama, we’ve seen how vital this program is. This isn’t a partisan issue, tt’s a people issue. Seniors in Alabama deserve to know that the care they count on today will still be there tomorrow. That’s why I’m calling on Alabama’s congressional delegation — Senators Tuberville and Britt, and our entire House delegation — to protect Medicare Advantage and oppose the No UPCODE Act.
