To save Medicare, build on what works

Politicians usually avoid proposing changes to Medicare in an election year, but the program’s rising costs and expected insolvency within the next five to 10 years will demand attention in the next presidential term. The question will be how to reduce spending while preserving benefits for seniors. The best approach is to build on the success of Medicare Advantage.

In traditional Medicare, the government decides what services it will cover and the price it will pay. In MA, seniors choose private coverage options where plans make more of those decisions in a competitive market. Most Medicare enrollees choose MA because it offers them better value.