Congressman Josh Riley is calling out major insurance companies for what he says is a betrayal of rural seniors in Upstate New York.
Riley, who represents New York’s 19th District, sent letters this week to the CEOs of UnitedHealth Group, Humana, and CVS Health after reports surfaced that all three companies plan to scale back Medicare Advantage coverage in rural parts of the state beginning in 2026.
“If a health insurance company wants the privilege of doing business with the federal government, then they don’t get to abandon seniors in Upstate New York,” Riley said in a statement. “Those days are over.”
More than two million New Yorkers rely on Medicare Advantage for lower-cost health care, and Riley warned that the cuts could leave rural residents with limited or no local options.
In his letters, Riley demanded answers to several questions, including:
- Why the plans are ending, and whether profit or executive pay played a role
- How many people will be affected, broken down by county and plan
- Which ZIP codes in NY-19 will lose coverage and whether alternatives exist
- What steps insurers are taking to ensure a smooth transition
- How they plan to prevent future disruptions in rural coverage
Riley gave the companies a deadline of 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, to respond.
The move follows several other rural health efforts Riley has backed this year, including emergency support for hospitals and increased funding for infrastructure and community care projects.
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