If you live in a place like Greenbrier County, where there are so many rural and underserved communities, you don’t need anyone to explain how important access to health care is. You see it every day.
Getting to a doctor isn’t always quick or easy. Sometimes it means driving an hour or longer to get seen or waiting weeks for an appointment. That’s even more difficult for seniors living on a fixed income and often dealing with chronic health issues. That’s why Medicare Advantage has become such a great health care option for West Virginia seniors.
Medicare Advantage brings everything together in a way the traditional Medicare system doesn’t. Instead of juggling different pieces, people can get their coverage in one plan. That includes dental, vision, and hearing benefits that seniors in traditional Medicare pay extra for. Many plans also offer transportation support, in-home care, and other services that help people stay healthier by addressing the real-life barriers to care.
That’s why it’s vital that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) just announced a final rate update of 2.48% for Medicare Advantage plans next year. That’s a vast improvement over the agency’s initial proposed increase of 0.09%. CMS deserves some credit for listening to public feedback and finalizing a rate that better reflects the reality of rising health care costs.
CMS’s decision to increase its proposed rate update didn’t happen by accident. It happened because seniors and caregivers spoke up and Washington listened. While this is a welcome increase in funding, it doesn’t mean the job is done.
Health care costs are increasing. Seniors are dealing with higher costs across the board, from groceries to housing to prescription drugs. They need to know their health care coverage will still be there and that their costs won’t suddenly spike. That’s especially important for rural communities like ours in West Virginia, where access and options are already limited.
Republicans in Washington need to stay engaged. We’ve always said we stand with seniors. We’ve always said we support practical, commonsense solutions that give people more choices, not fewer. Medicare Advantage fits that description.
West Virginia’s seniors don’t need a perfect system. They just need one they can count on to deliver the care and support they need without breaking the bank. Medicare Advantage has helped provide that stability for a long time.
Now it’s up to leaders in Washington to keep building on what works and make sure this program stays strong for the people who depend on it every day. That means supporting policies that ensure more stable funding for the program and opposing those that put the benefits and services tens of millions of Americans count on at risk.
Ben Anderson is chairman of the Greenbrier County Republican Executive Committee.
