In our new research for the Better Medicare Alliance, we explored voter reaction to the federal government’s upcoming decision about Medicare Advantage:
Key findings:
1) Given the concerns about increasing health care costs, voters interpret the federal government’s proposed payment increase of 0.09% as flat funding, connecting flat funding to consequences like benefit cuts and higher costs to seniors.
2.) Since the beginning of 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation tracking shows the costs of medical care have increased 3.6%. From this year’s January report to February, medical cost inflation has increased .4% in that one month timeframe — four times the payment increase of 0.09% that the federal government is proposing for the entire year in 2027.
3) Our research shows the proposed payment increase of 0.09% is viewed as inadequate, especially among seniors in Medicare Advantage who view the proposal as inadequate by 2:1.
4.) By 2:1, voters want the proposal to be revised and increased to keep pace with rising costs.
Read our analysis here.
