Sen. Tim Scott introduces legislation to make Medicare plan choices clearer for seniors
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced the Apples to Apples Comparison Act of 2026, legislation requiring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide seniors with clear, comparable data when choosing between Medicare Advantage (MA) and traditional Fee-for-Service coverage. By giving seniors accurate cost and coverage information, the legislation empowers them to choose the plan that best meets their health care needs.
“Seniors deserve straightforward, accurate, and easily understandable information to help them make informed decisions about their health care,” said Sen. Scott. “Too often, seniors are left comparing apples to oranges when evaluating their options between traditional Medicare versus Medicare Advantage, and that confusion can have real consequences for their health and finances. This bill will provide seniors the clear, comparable data they need to confidently choose the plan that best meets their needs and protects both their health and their pocketbooks.”
“America’s seniors deserve to know that policymaking impacting their Medicare coverage is informed by accurate and unbiased information. The Apples to Apples Comparison Act will ensure that comparisons of the performance of Medicare Advantage and fee-for-service Medicare are based on complete, reliable information and consistent methodology – not on flawed extrapolations or agendas,” said Mike Tuffin, president and CEO, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).
“As physician groups seeking to be held accountable for the costs and quality of health care, members of America’s Physician Groups greatly value the cost-effective care that they can provide through close partnerships with Medicare Advantage plans. That’s why we have a stake in enactment of the bipartisan Apples to Apples Comparison Act and are very pleased that Sen. Scott is sponsoring the Senate version. Policymakers need better information to evaluate Medicare Advantage, which is fundamentally a different program from Original Medicare and can’t be judged well by inaccurate government comparisons between the two. Requiring better and more valid measurements and transparency will go a long way to assuring both policymakers and the public that we have the tools needed to understand these programs and oversee them effectively,” said America’s Physician Groups (APG).
“The Council for Affordable Health Coverage supports the Apples to Apples Comparison Act. For too long, policymakers and Medicare beneficiaries have lacked a clear, standardized way to compare Medicare Advantage with fee-for-service Medicare. This commonsense legislation brings much-needed transparency by making Medicare spending data accurate, accessible, and comparable,” said Joel White, president, Council for Affordable Health Coverage (CAHC). “By empowering beneficiaries with better information and encouraging competition based on quality and value, this bill strengthens Medicare without reducing benefits or limiting access.”
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce applauds Senator Tim Scott for introducing the Apples toApples Comparison Act. The proposed legislation is a smart and straightforward step to bring clarity and consistency to MedPAC analysis,” said Lexi Branson, vice president for health policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Full text of the bill can be found here.
BACKGROUND
- The legislation builds on Sen. Scott’s long record of supporting MA while improving transparency in the system.
- MA is a private insurance option under Medicare that provides most beneficiaries with coverage for services not included in traditional Medicare, including dental, vision, fitness, telehealth, and prescription drug coverage with lower deductibles.
- MA provides seniors a more affordable, flexible, and comprehensive alternative to traditional Medicare, also called Fee-for-Service.
- MA enrollment has grown significantly both in South Carolina and nationwide, rising from 12 percent of beneficiaries in South Carolina in 2009 to 44 percent in 2023, and from 24 percent nationally in 2009 to 51 percent in 2023.
- As of 2024, 97 MA plans are available in South Carolina.
###