The insurance industry is launching a seven-figure advertising , grassroots and lobbying campaign to persuade Washington officials not to cut Medicare Advantage funding next year . A key piece of that campaign is a new television ad , obtained first by CNN . The ad , which will begin airing Thursday , comes as policy makers begin to set payment rates for next year . The preliminary rates for Medicare Advantage program , which covers seniors through private insurance , will be announced next month , and final rates will be set in April . The ad campaign is part of a lobbying and media blitz by the insurance industry to avoid cuts to their Medicare Advantage payments . The Affordable Care Act cut the Medicare Advantage program by $ 200 billion . The law and other policy changes cut the program by 6.5 % this year . Insurance officials say the cuts are already forcing insurers to cut their doctor networks , and they warn that further cuts will increase cost and limit access to seniors . `` If the Medicare Advantage plan is cut once again , seniors are going to find out in October that their costs are going up , their benefits are being reduced and they have fewer choices of providers and fewer coverage options , '' said Robert Zirkelbach , spokesman for the insurance industry trade group America 's Health Insurance Plans . In the TV ad , seniors tell Washington that they depend on their Medicare Advantage coverage and will spread the word . `` No more cuts to Medicare Advantage , '' Evelyn Harrell said . Added Mary Kay Boerner , `` You know , we vote . '' Insurers believe that timing will help their cause . Most seniors will find out about the new rates during open enrollment in October -- only weeks before congressional elections . And insurers are betting that lawmakers wo n't want to be explaining to 14 million seniors why their health care costs more or their benefits have decreased .
Insurers aim to prevent Medicare Advantage cuts with TV , lobbying campaign . Policy makers in Washington will soon set 2015 rates , which were cut 6.5 % this year . TV ad includes seniors who remind lawmakers , up for election in the fall , that they vote .