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Medicare Advantage is good policy for South Carolina seniors | Opinion

State - 3/13/2023

I am continually proud of South Carolina’s senators for the leadership they show in Washington on issues that are important to their constituents. Through my work as a national committeeman, I have had the opportunity to get to know these gentlemen and see their work firsthand.

That is why I am thankful to Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsay Graham for leading on issues surrounding senior health care and pushing policies that offer affordable, accessible options to our aging community. Last month, Scott emerged as a lead signer on a bipartisan senate letter calling on the Biden Administration to continue supporting Medicare Advantage. Graham also supported and signed this same letter. This is exactly the kind of leadership that our senators should be focused on.

Medicare Advantage is an increasingly popular program for seniors, offering them health care coverage that is tailored to their needs at a low cost. Nationwide, over 30 million Americans choose to be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, including over 450,000 South Carolinians. The program gives seniors access to a variety of great benefits, including capping out-of-pocket costs and expanded in-home care coverage, all under one plan.

In my travels across the state, I have had the opportunity to meet many of our state’s seniors who enjoy the benefits of Medicare Advantage. When I ask them about the best parts of their coverage, many mention how affordable their plans are. This is especially important as our nation battles high inflation. Our senior community and other retirees need affordable options to keep more money in their pockets as costs continue to rise. And I have been pleased to hear from seniors across the state who have saved hundreds of dollars a year in medical bills thanks to Medicare Advantage.

Building bridges to new voters has been a part of my platform as a national committeeman since the beginning. That is why I am proud that Medicare Advantage serves millions of low-income and underserved enrollees, including nearly half of all ethnic/racial minorities eligible for Medicare and nearly 4 million Americans living in rural areas. Access to health care shouldn’t be defined by where you live, your income, or who you are. Seniors on Medicare Advantage have worked hard to earn these benefits, and they should all be allowed to enjoy them.

Unfortunately, the Biden Administration has proposed cutting billions of dollars in funding from Medicare Advantage this year. These cuts will hit South Carolina seniors hard, making it more difficult to access their health care.

Our elected leaders should be focused on ways to limit the burden of rising costs on their constituents. Medicare Advantage is a good policy for keeping health care affordable for our seniors — and our taxpayers. Now is not the time to take resources away from important programs like Medicare Advantage. I join many of my friends and neighbors in thanking Scott and Graham for fighting to protect Medicare Advantage and America’s seniors.

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