In March, we were in Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress and their staff to talk about something very personal to us: Medicare Advantage. We didn’t go as policy experts. We went as caregivers to our aging parents.
Both our parents are enrolled in Medicare Advantage. Like many of our peers, we’ve slowly taken on more responsibility as they’ve gotten older, from helping them manage their appointments and prescriptions to navigating the day-to-day challenges that come with aging.
It’s hard to explain how complicated that can be if you haven’t experienced it before. Between doctor visits, specialist appointments, medications, follow-ups, therapy, and home care, it can feel like a full-time job just trying to coordinate all of that across different programs and plans.
Medicare Advantage has helped make all that easier for our family. Plans coordinate care and cover a wider range of benefits than traditional Medicare. That includes vision and dental care, prescription drugs, and extra benefits ranging from transportation assistance to fitness programs. These things have helped our parents stay healthier and more engaged in their communities.
That’s why we went to Washington. We wanted lawmakers to understand that when they talk about Medicare Advantage funding, they aren’t just talking about a number in the federal budget. They are talking about real families like ours.