Could Biden’s Medicare Cuts Help The GOP?

Joe Biden promised in his March State of the Union Address that he would never reduce any Medicare benefit and would “stop them” if anyone attempted to do so. That was short-lived. On April 1, 33 million seniors lost their Medicare coverage due to a decrease by Biden’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Since the majority of American seniors receive their medical benefits through the Medicare Advantage program, a public-private partnership that offers seniors additional options, it was neither an April Fool’s joke nor funny to them. The devastating budget cuts to this essential program affect the elderly as well as taxpayers.

Biden’s decision to slash Medicare is blatantly hypocritical, especially considering that he will erroneously and unavoidably imply Republicans want to decrease benefits.

However, Republicans might find success with it. Most seniors in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin swing states that supported Donald Trump in 2016 but voted for Biden in 2020 get their Medicare coverage through Medicare Advantage. It is almost 60% in Michigan, the state that Biden is working himself up in knots to protect.

Seniors are increasingly selecting MAs. Enrollment rises annually. 33 million Americans have signed up this year. That represents about ten percent of the population, which is a huge electorate. The Congressional Budget Office projects that in the next ten years, 62% of eligible Americans will enroll in Massachusetts.

Furthermore, nearly 90% of participants say they are satisfied with their coverage and would recommend MA to friends and family. Why? Studies demonstrate that MA plans produce better health outcomes for their members than does standard Medicare, such as “lower rates of high-risk prescription usage, fewer hospital readmissions, and fewer avoidable hospitalizations.”

Seniors without catastrophic coverage must purchase Medigap in case of emergencies. Medicare Parts A and B cover hospital stays and physician visits. The traditional Medicare Fee for Service does not include an out-of-pocket cap for enrollees, nor does it offer prescription drug plans or coverage for vision, dental, or hearing impairments. The majority of seniors who qualify for Medicare Advantage plans select them in order to receive those benefits, which may even include groceries, gym memberships, transportation to doctor appointments, and other benefits.

These advantages all have lower or even no out-of-pocket expenses. As a result of Biden’s changes to this crucial program, enrollee prices will now increase by almost $400 per year. That is disastrous for elderly people living on fixed incomes.

Biden’s proposed Medicare cut is blatantly hypocritical, especially in light of the fact that he will erroneously and unavoidably assert that Republicans are the ones who want to cut entitlement spending.

It would be wise policy to undo Biden’s Medicare Advantage cutbacks. It is also smart politics to use such cuts as a campaign issue. With a voting bloc of thirty-three million seniors and a turnout percentage of 72%, the highest of any age group, they can make a big difference in closely contested races in an almost evenly divided United States.

Because of his Scranton Joe reputation and his long-standing status as a centrist Democrat, Biden is performing better among older voters than younger ones. However, these reductions are drastic. By criticizing Massachusetts, Biden is siding with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Republicans now have a chance to alienate voters, who will be less than pleased to learn that Biden is reneging on his Medicare pledge. We must also ensure that they are fully aware of this.

Pew Research reports that seniors make up 37% of Republican votes. Our largest age group is the one. We ought to raise the issue of Medicare Advantage from now until November, as the majority of eligible seniors select it and about 90% of them are satisfied with it.

Republicans are allegedly “pouncing” on many issues, according to Democrats. In fact, expect Republicans to seize upon this issue. Preserving Medicare Advantage is a crucial issue that could determine whether or not my former congressional colleagues retain the House in November, if I were to give them advice.