I’m a pharmacy student, and I work a lot with senior citizens, helping them with their treatment regimens and their wellness efforts. As a result, I’m getting to know more about seniors’ options for health care, including Medicare Advantage. What I’m seeing makes me a fan of Medicare Advantage.
I’ve been impressed by the variety of Medicare Advantage health plans that exist and their low costs. I believe it’s essential that Medicare Advantage continue to be a program that is protected and strengthened, so it can help Illinois’ seniors and provide them with choices when it comes to their health care. For one thing, when a senior sees a list of available and affordable health plans in their area, they are empowered to make the best choice for their situation. Further, Medicare Advantage is also less complicated than traditional Medicare; a single plan – not two or three in combination – that can be used anywhere from pharmacy benefits to simple checkups.
What’s more, once they are enrolled, low co-pays and reasonable out-of-pocket expense caps enable seniors to access any treatments they need, like prescription medicines. Affordability also lets them get check-ups and screenings to detect problems early, without worrying about their finances. Anything that puts more pressure on seniors’ budgets would lead to fewer seniors being unable to take care of their well-being. No one wants that.
The more I learn about Medicare Advantage, the happier I am that my U.S. representative, Peter Roskam, has always been its champion. His sustained support has helped ensure Medicare Advantage remains stable, affordable and beneficial to seniors and I ask him to continue to be a strong supporter of Medicare Advantage because it’s a valuable program for seniors across Illinois.
Alexandra M. Carlson
Lake Zurich
