Bill Renaming Medicare Advantage Program Reintroduced

Several Democratic members of Congress led by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) reintroduced legislation entitled the "Save Medicare Act" on March 6, 2026. The bill would rename the Medicare Advantage program to "Alternative Private Health Plan" program.

The bill would also prohibit what are currently referred to as MA plans from using the term "Medicare" in their plan name and impose a $100,000 penalty for every instance of noncompliance. A 2022 Senate Finance Committee report, entitled "Deceptive Marketing Practices Flourish in Medicare Advantage" identified complaints filed about MA plans' misuse of "Medicare" in various beneficiary-facing communications that are designed to confuse beneficiaries. According to Schakowsky, "This crucial legislation will end deceptive marketing and ensure beneficiaries understand the difference between Traditional Medicare and private insurance plans. Seniors deserve transparency, accountability, and the full benefits they have earned."

Other democratic co-sponsors of the bill include Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Grace Meng (NY-06), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12).

LeadingAge will monitor this bill.