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Senior voters will head to the polls this Fall thinking about healthcare, and a new survey says Medicare Advantage is front of mind.
The poll from Seniors Matter for America, the “Seniors First” group launched in January by former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, found 69% of likely voters over 65 in key states, including Florida, say healthcare policy directly shapes their congressional vote.
The warning is sharpest on Medicare Advantage. Among Florida seniors, oversampled in the survey, 74% said they would be less likely to back a candidate who voted to limit their plan. Two-thirds of voters nationally agreed.
Created in 2003, Medicare Advantage is the privately run alternative to traditional Medicare that bundles hospital, medical and often drug coverage. It now covers 55% of eligible beneficiaries nationwide and more than 60% in Florida, among the highest rates in the country.
In a cycle dominated by affordability, 74% of enrolled seniors say their plan costs are “just right.”
The survey comes as Washington fights over the program’s future. The “No UPCODE Act” would change how plans are paid; supporters call it a crackdown on over billing, industry allies say it would cut benefits. Regulators, meanwhile, gave plans a 5% payment increase this year while promising more scrutiny of prior authorization.
The timing could have political significance. Voters 65 and older accounted for 30.4% of ballots cast in the 2022 Midterms, the highest-turnout age group in the country, and open enrollment begins Oct. 15, so annual plan notices will hit mailboxes just as those voters make up their minds.
Most healthcare fights split along party lines. This one doesn’t. Seniors in a state with among the highest Medicare Advantage enrollment rates in the nation are telling candidates to leave what’s working alone.
— Ed. note: This story was drafted with assistance from AI. Editorial judgment, sourcing, and final review were performed by Peter Schorsch and the Florida Politics editorial team.
The post Poll: Don’t touch Medicare Advantage, Florida seniors warn candidates appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
