Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023 | 2 a.m.
After reading Dr. Tom Roben’s Oct. 8 guest column, “Picking the right Medicare plan prescription for good health,” I wanted to emphasize the importance of seniors considering their options during Medicare open enrollment and highlighting how Medicare Advantage may be the best plan for underserved communities.
Many marginalized communities, including the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) population, are concerned about having access to high-quality and affordable health care.
Medicare Advantage is the preferred choice for disadvantaged beneficiaries, as revealed by a recent comprehensive Harvard-Inovalon study. The study highlights the affordable, high-quality care that comes with Medicare Advantage but also sheds light on how the program addresses the unique health care needs of AANHPI individuals, who often face culturally specific health challenges due to historical disadvantages.
A more recent ATI Advisory Report echoes this claim with findings that Medicare Advantage “delivers lower out-of-pocket costs and superior benefits to demographically diverse and socially disadvantaged cancer patients and survivors.”
Most recently, the State of Medicare Advantage report, released by the Better Medicare Alliance, found that beneficiaries have a 95% satisfaction rate and save $2,400 per year. In Nevada, more than 266,000 people are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, totaling nearly half of all eligible Medicare beneficiaries.
I take pride in supporting our leaders who champion health equity and advocate for Medicare Advantage. Open enrollment ends Dec. 7, so consider Medicare Advantage and pick the best plan for your health future.
The writer represents District 8 in the Nevada Assembly.
