Seniors are deeply concerned about the recent and upcoming cuts to Medicare Advantage programs, as these changes directly affect their healthcare coverage, costs, and access to services. Medicare Advantage, a popular alternative to Original Medicare, covers more than 34 million seniors and people with disabilities, offering benefits like prescription drug coverage, telehealth, and wellness programs. The proposed and enacted cuts have sparked widespread worry because they threaten to reduce benefits, increase out-of-pocket costs, and limit plan availability, leaving many seniors uncertain about their healthcare future.
Medicare Advantage plans are facing significant changes starting in 2026, with many insurers scaling back or completely withdrawing from certain markets. This retrenchment is driven by rising healthcare costs, new federal cost-containment rules, and insurers’ efforts to protect profit margins. Major insurers such as Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Elevance Health, and Aetna are cutting plans or exiting markets, affecting hundreds of thousands of seniors. These moves reduce the number of plan options available, forcing seniors to either pay more for coverage or switch to plans that may not meet their needs as well. The shrinking availability of plans is a major source of anxiety for seniors who rely on Medicare Advantage for comprehensive coverage beyond what Original Medicare offers.
The cuts also come amid broader legislative changes, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed in 2025, which implements historic funding reductions to Medicare and Medicaid programs. These cuts threaten the financial stability of Medicare’s hospital trust fund and delay expansions of programs designed to help low-income seniors with premiums and out-of-pocket costs. For seniors who depend on both Medicare and Medicaid (dual-eligible), these funding cuts could mean reduced access to essential services. Additionally, new restrictions on immigrant eligibility for Medicare add another layer of concern for older immigrants who have contributed to the system but now face delays or loss of coverage.
Polling data reveals strong opposition among seniors and the general public to Medicare Advantage cuts. A majority of voters, including a significant portion of Republicans, believe that reducing funding or benefits in Medicare Advantage would raise costs and reduce coverage quality for seniors. Many seniors express urgent concerns that without Medicare Advantage, they would struggle to afford basic necessities like food, medication, and doctor visits. The program’s role in modernizing healthcare through telehealth, in-home care, and wellness initiatives is widely recognized, making the prospect of cuts even more troubling.
Seniors are also worried about the practical implications of these changes. With fewer plans available, some seniors may face higher premium
