I’m a California senior and cancer survivor. I’m terrified of any cuts to Medicare | Opinion

Fighting breast cancer was one of the toughest battles of my life, but I didn’t fight it alone: I had a care team that provided the screenings, specialists and follow-up care I needed to stay cancer-free.

While I didn’t rely on Medicare Advantage for my own coverage, I know how critical it is for millions of seniors who need access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare. Medicare Advantage helps older adults manage chronic conditions, receive preventive care and avoid the financial strain of high medical costs. That’s why I worry about what could happen if Congress allows funding for this vital program to be cut.

For many of us, these benefits are not luxuries — they are necessities that allow us to manage chronic conditions, recover from illnesses and maintain our quality of life. As a cancer survivor, my continued health depends on routine screenings, specialist visits and follow-up care, all of which Medicare Advantage has helped me afford.

Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, is an alternative to Medicare that’s offered by private companies. Medicare Advantage is a lifeline for more than 3.5 million Californians, offering lower out-of-pocket costs, preventive screenings and benefits not covered by traditional Medicare, such as vision, dental, hearing and wellness programs.

In California, where a rapidly growing senior population faces diverse healthcare needs, Medicare Advantage can help provide more cost-effective, comprehensive coverage options. For older adults, that means easier access to preventive services, simplified insurance coordination and potentially lower out-of-pocket costs.

Despite its overwhelming success and 88% satisfaction rate, Medicare Advantage has faced years of funding cuts that threaten to increase costs for seniors, reduce benefits and limit access to care. Without strong leadership in Congress, millions of seniors could see their healthcare coverage become less affordable and less comprehensive.

For many seniors, Medicare Advantage is the difference between staying independent and being forced into difficult financial or health decisions. Many beneficiaries live on fixed incomes, and an increase in premiums or out-of-pocket costs could mean the difference between paying for medications, housing or even groceries. We should be working to strengthen this program, not weakening it.

Medicare Advantage draws its funding from the same sources that pay for traditional Medicare, with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services setting the payment rates, not Congress directly. Now is the time for Congress to use its voice to ensure California seniors who rely on these plans don’t see their benefits cut or premiums increased.

California’s congressional delegation must stand up for Medicare Advantage and the millions of seniors who rely on it. And new leaders in Washington, like Dr. Mehmet Oz, who has been nominated to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, need to truly understand seniors’ concerns and commit to concrete steps to protect Medicare Advantage. Our elected leaders must push back against any attempts to cut funding and ensure Medicare Advantage remains strong, stable and accessible to the seniors who depend on it.

Seniors like me should not have to choose between healthcare and other essential expenses. Many of us are already on fixed incomes, and any increase in healthcare costs could be devastating. Cancer survivors, in particular, need continued access to specialists, screenings and ongoing care to prevent recurrence. Medicare Advantage makes that possible. We cannot afford to see it weakened.