A letter recently sent by Reps. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and John Barrow (D-Ga.) and signed by more than 200 members of Congress called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to keep rates stable for 2015 Medicare Advantage.
New analysis revealed that a majority of Medicare Advantage enrollees will face significant benefit cuts in 2015 that will jeopardize the stability of the program. On average, benefits will be reduced by approximately $1,500 per beneficiary, which will affect approximately 16 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage.
The Obama Administration cut $716 billion from Medicare to fund Obamacare, including $300 billion from Medicare Advantage.
“Thousands of Louisiana seniors rely on Medicare Advantage and there has been wide bipartisan support in Congress to protect this program,” Cassidy said. “But Obamacare’s cuts to Medicare are hurting senior’s access to quality, affordable care. By 2015, Louisiana’s seniors will see their benefits cut by about 20 percent-almost $3,000. It must be a priority to fight for policies that expand healthcare choices by giving the power to patients, not bureaucrats.”
Both Cassidy and Barrow have been outspoken opponents of the cuts.
“More than 300,000 seniors in Georgia rely heavily on Medicare Advantage for their health care needs, and because of cuts in the new health care law, the benefits they need could be taken away. We can’t continue to cut away at health care for seniors,” Barrow said. “Congressman Cassidy and I are committed to preserving this program, and we’ll continue to look out for the seniors who need Medicare Advantage as it currently exists.”