Former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has launched a scathing attack on the Biden administration, accusing it of secretly dismantling the popular Medicare Advantage program. In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Jindal argued that the administration’s actions represent a blatant disregard for the well-being of millions of American seniors, using them as pawns in a partisan political game.
Jindal highlighted the irony of President Biden repeatedly blaming Republicans for wanting to cut Medicare, while his own administration has quietly implemented a series of cuts to Medicare Advantage over the past two years. These cuts, disguised as ‘payment adjustments,’ have resulted in tangible negative consequences for seniors: higher premiums, reduced benefits, and narrower provider networks. This undermines a program overwhelmingly favored by nearly 35 million seniors – over half of all Medicare beneficiaries – who choose Medicare Advantage for its superior value and comprehensive coverage, including benefits like dental and vision care often lacking in traditional Medicare.
The Governor emphasized the insidious nature of these cuts, pointing to a concerning event just days before Thanksgiving. A notice filed with the Office of Management and Budget revealed the administration’s initiation of a regulatory review of 2026 Medicare Advantage rates. The timing of this review is particularly troubling, as it strategically pushes the process into the lame-duck period of the Biden administration. This maneuver severely limits the incoming Trump administration’s ability to reverse these damaging cuts, given the complex regulatory processes and tight deadlines.
The looming deadline – the first week of February 2025, mere weeks after President Trump’s potential inauguration – leaves the incoming administration with a critically short window to intervene. This calculated move, Jindal argues, represents a deliberate attempt by the Biden administration to hamstring the next administration’s ability to protect Medicare Advantage. Jindal calls for accountability, demanding that CMS bureaucrats be prevented from pushing through another harmful Medicare Advantage cut. He asserts this isn’t just about Medicare; it’s about eroding trust in the system, jeopardizing the peace of mind that seniors rely on.
While Jindal acknowledges that improvements can be made to the Medicare Advantage program, including exploring competitive bidding to reduce costs and refining risk adjustment calculations to prevent gaming the system, he argues that the Biden administration’s approach isn’t about improvement, but a deliberate undermining of the program to advance a broader agenda of government-controlled healthcare. He contrasts this with the approach of the Trump administration, which actively worked to protect and expand Medicare Advantage, recognizing the importance of choice, competition, and senior well-being. Jindal concludes by emphasizing that seniors deserve better than political gamesmanship with their healthcare, and that Republicans are committed to protecting and strengthening the Medicare Advantage program.
