Oklahoma Seniors Urge Lawmakers to Protect Medicare Advantage

(Left to right) Broken Arrow City Councilor Lisa Ford, Tulsa resident and senior Barbara Heidler, Congressman Kevin Hern (OK-01), and Town Village Tulsa Executive Director Cindy Vann met at Hern’s Tulsa office to discuss Medicare Advantage.  

OKLAHOMA CITY — In recent weeks, seniors and caregivers from across Oklahoma met with members of the state’s congressional delegation to share their experiences with Medicare Advantage and urge continued support for the program. The meetings, attended by advocates from the Coalition for Medicare Choices, included in-person conversations with U.S. Representatives Stephanie Bice (OK-5), Tom Cole (OK-4), and Kevin Hern (OK-1).

Medicare Advantage currently covers more than 320,000 Oklahomans. Participants highlighted the program’s affordability, robust benefits, and emphasis on preventive care as key reasons why they rely on it to manage their health.

Barbara Gibbons, a breast cancer survivor managing diabetes, shared with Congresswoman Bice that Medicare Advantage has been a lifeline—making it possible to afford care from specialists and maintain consistent access to the treatment she needs. She emphasized that without the plan’s cost protections and integrated benefits like dental and vision, her care would be out of reach.

Other beneficiaries shared similar stories. In Norman, a retired Air Force veteran told Congressman Cole that Medicare Advantage was the standout affordable option for him after he turned 65. In Tulsa, a 92-year-old resident of a senior living facility described to Congressman Hern how her Medicare Advantage plan allowed her to continue regular visits to multiple specialists while keeping her monthly premium under $20.

That 92-year-old Tulsa resident was Barbara Heidler, a Medicare Advantage enrollee and resident of Town Village Tulsa. She also traveled to Washington, D.C. alongside Cindy Vann, Senior Executive Director of Town Village Tulsa and Vice Chairman of the Oklahoma Senior Living Association. On June 10 and 11, the two met with members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation and a representative from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to thank them for their support and share how Medicare Advantage is helping seniors across the state remain active and independent.

While in D.C., Vann explained that many residents would struggle to afford housing and health care without the cost savings Medicare Advantage provides. In meetings back home, city councilors from Broken Arrow and Norman described how seniors in their communities use their plans to stay active and healthy.

Oklahoma’s congressional representatives expressed general support for the program and acknowledged its growing popularity among constituents. All three lawmakers signaled they do not anticipate cuts and appreciated hearing directly from constituents about its value.

As federal budget talks continue, advocates hope the voices of Oklahoma seniors will help protect a program they describe as vital to their independence, well-being, and financial stability.