Sinema, Better Medicare Alliance, discuss Arizona seniors’ access to low-cost health care

WASHINGTON D.C. (KYMA, KECY) - U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D - Arizona) hosted a discussion with Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) to discuss how Medicare Advantage plans could raise Arizona seniors' access to cost-effective, high-quality health care.

Sen. Sinema and the BMA were able to hear from Arizona seniors, leaders and health care providers at first hand.

“We’ll keep working to strengthen and protect Arizonans’ access to Medicare, and help ensure hundreds of thousands of Arizona seniors have the affordable health care coverage they’ve earned through a lifetime of work,” said Sinema.

Sen. Sinema emphasized her strong support of securing the ability of Medicare beneficiaries to pick between Medicare Advantage plans or conventional Medicare.

The conference's purpose was a chance for Sen. Sinema to hear from Arizona seniors on their individual experiences and thoughts of Medicare Advantage.

Seniors do not need to enroll in a "one-for-all" health care plan and will have more options for their specific needs under the Medicare Advantage plans.

Per Sen. Sinema's office, Arizona has over 45% enrollees with Medicare who are also Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, enrollees report $1,640 less in total annual health spending per beneficiary in comparison to traditional Medicare.

Medicare Advantage offers low-cost coverage by limiting out-of-pocket costs and lowering the price of prescription drugs and contributing additional benefits that traditional Medicare would not cover like merged vision, hearing, dental, wellness programs, in-home caregiver aid and new telehealth choices.