CMS’ Proposed Rates for Medicare Advantage Fail Arizona Seniors

Vicki Barber

Sometimes it seems like leaders in Washington, D.C. forget that the decisions they make have real-world consequences communities for their constituents. At least, that’s how it feels for me when lawmakers talk a big game about supporting seniors, only to then make policy changes that hurt the programs we count on every day.

Medicare Advantage, which more than 35 million seniors and Americans with disabilities use to access the health care and services they need, is one of those programs. I’ve been on a Medicare Advantage plan since years, and I can safely say that it brings value to my life that extends beyond health care. I’m tired of lawmakers and regulators using the program as target practice for funding cuts that threaten the stability seniors have come to rely on.

The most recent Advance Rate Notice by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is a prime example. For 2027, CMS is proposing an almost laughably low payment increase to Medicare Advantage plans – essentially flat.

Health care costs are rising every year. According to CMS’ own data, health care spending grew by over 7% in 2024 alone and is projected to have grown by nearly the same amount last year. With year-over-year growth averaging around 7%, flat funding for Medicare Advantage payments won’t even be enough to cover a portion of the rising cost of care.

Unfortunately, that’s going to hurt Medicare Advantage enrollees the most. As we’ve seen happen in the past when this program was put on the chopping block, cuts to funding will more than likely lead to higher costs, weaker benefits, and fewer choices for folks like me. It’s not fair for this burden to fall on our shoulders.

Medicare Advantage is the program of choice for more than half of all Medicare enrollees. It’s popular because it bundles the benefits that make a difference in the lives of seniors together with a range of added services that treat the whole patient. It goes far beyond what is included in the original version of Medicare.

The program also emphasizes prevention and wellness in a way that old-school Medicare does not. Many plans cover wellness and fitness benefits like gym memberships and enrollment in the SilverSneakers program, which keeps seniors healthier and more active while helping us make vital connections in our communities.

Like I said, for the tens of millions of Americans enrolled in Medicare Advantage, this is about our quality of life and whether we’ll be able to access and afford the care we need, when we need it, and where we need it. In fact, according to research from late last year, 91% of seniors agree that funding for Medicare Advantage is a cost-of-living issue just as much as it is a health care one.

Polling matters for lawmakers, particularly during the lead-up to what will be a hugely consequential midterm election, so hopefully our leaders in Washington are paying attention to those numbers. Seniors are a force to be reckoned with at the ballot box, and we’re watching closely to see how lawmakers are working to support Medicare Advantage.

Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego should show Arizona seniors that their support is more than just talk by working with their colleagues and the administration to push CMS for a better rate increase for Medicare Advantage next year—one that more accurately reflects the rising cost of care in this country.