Crapo Says Administration Short-Changing 70,000 Idahoans Who Rely on Medicare Advantage

Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is objecting to an announcement late Friday from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) concerning yet another round of cuts to the successful Medicare Advantage (MA) program for 2015.  Due to Obamacare, over the next two years, MA will see about $45.5 billion in cuts on top of the reductions proposed by CMS.  For beneficiaries, this means increased premiums, limited provider networks and in many cases cancelled plans.

Crapo originally led a bipartisan coalition of forty senators who wrote to CMS in support of MA and the beneficiaries that enjoy these plans.  The letter requested CMS minimize disruption in maintaining payment levels for 2015.

"For the 15 million Americans and over 70,000 Idahoans enrolled in MA plans, this announcement from CMS will likely mean more cancelled plans," said Crapo.  "In the letter I sent to CMS, I asked that the agency not pile on with additional cuts that will disrupt the insurance plans that so many seniors rely upon.  MA has been a competitive option for seniors across the country, but many have already experienced plans being cancelled due to previous reductions and the cuts from Obamacare.  Unfortunately, a large portion of the Medicare beneficiary population could become the latest victims of the president's broken promise, 'if you like your plan, you can keep it.'"

In the coming years, MA will face over $200 billion in cuts as a result of Obamacare.  These cuts, along with additional proposed cuts from CMS, could result in MA plans being cancelled for seniors across the country.