Chattanooga Times Free Press: Alexander: Cuts to Medicare Advantage will hurt seniors

A proposed 0.9 percent cut in payments to health insurers for Medicare Advantage plans will hurt seniors and the disabled, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander says.

Medicare Advantage provides health benefits to more than 16 million elderly or disabled people. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the proposed cut Friday. In response, Alexander and 52 other senators wrote to CMS Director Marilyn Tavenner opposing the reduction.

"The administration's proposed cuts could threaten access to popular health plans or increase out-of-pocket costs for more than 400,000 Tennesseans who have chosen Medicare Advantage -- nearly one in three Tennesseans enrolled in Medicare," Alexander said in a news release. "I urge CMS to reconsider these cuts that could disrupt health coverage for millions of seniors and individuals with disabilities in this country."