Understanding Today’s Healthcare Challenges and How You Can Make a Difference

Why Healthcare Changes Matter for Voice Therapy Patients—and Everyone

If you or someone you care about relies on voice therapy, you know how important it is to have
consistent, affordable access to quality care. But the issues facing our healthcare system stretch
far beyond one specialty. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing a chronic
condition, seeking preventive care, or supporting a loved one’s communication and medical
needs, the current changes in the U.S. healthcare system could have a direct impact on your
ability to get the help you need. Today, we’re diving into some of the biggest challenges facing
patients, caregivers, and providers—and how you can advocate for better solutions.

Rising Medicare Costs: Straining Seniors, People with Disabilities, and All Who Rely on
Coverage

Medicare is a lifeline for millions of Americans, especially older adults and those with
disabilities. However, recent trends show that the cost of Medicare is rising faster than ever.
Higher premiums, increased deductibles, and more out-of-pocket expenses mean many patients
are feeling the financial squeeze. These additional costs can make accessing voice therapy,
rehabilitation, routine medical visits, and medications much harder, threatening both progress
and quality of life for patients across the spectrum. (Personal note from Karen Sussman: like
many others, I just saw an increase in my Medicare premium, supplemental plan premium, and
Part D Drug Plan premium, of about $60 additional per month, bringing my costs for health care
in 2026 well above what I was paying through the ACA Marketplace for coverage as a self-
employed individual. And that’s on top of decades of paying into the Medicare system! Of
course, Marketplace plan costs are also rising…see below.)

CMS Payment Cuts: Impacting Provider Availability and Care Quality

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced payment cuts to
healthcare providers in several specialties, including therapy services. When providers—from
primary care doctors to speech-language pathologists—receive less reimbursement for the care
they deliver, it can lead to fewer available appointments, longer wait times, and even the closure
of clinics and therapy practices. For voice therapy patients, as well as those needing acute or
preventive medical care, this could mean traveling farther for care or losing access altogether.

Private Insurance Cost Increases: Burdening Working Families and Individuals

It’s not just Medicare patients who are affected—private health insurance costs are climbing year
after year. Families and individuals who rely on employer-sponsored or Marketplace plans are
seeing higher premiums, bigger deductibles, and more restrictive coverage for both general
medical care and specialized services like voice therapy. These changes can force people to delay
or skip needed appointments, treatments, and therapies, putting their health and well-being at
risk.

Loss of ACA Subsidies: Threatening Affordability for Millions

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) brought vital subsidies to help low- and middle-income
Americans afford health coverage. The US saw record-high enrollment in the Affordable Care
Act plans over the last few years. (On a personal note, before turning 65, the only way I could
have affordable healthcare as a solo practitioner was through the Marketplace plans. It was truly
a lifeline.). But with the potential loss of these subsidies, many people could be priced out of the
insurance market. Plan prices are expected to skyrocket. For those who need voice therapy,
ongoing medical treatment, or access to preventative screenings, losing coverage means losing
access to life-changing services—and facing tough choices about their health.

To make matters worse, some of the big insurers are leaving the Marketplace altogether as of
Jan.1, 2026. This narrows the networks of providers and plan choices even more. Even if you
get your insurance through work and not the ACA, many plans now have very high deductibles,
again cutting into patients’ healthcare budgets.

Medicaid Disenrollment: Leaving Vulnerable Populations Behind

Recent policy changes may lead to widespread disenrollment from Medicaid, the program that
covers low-income individuals and families. This means that some of the most vulnerable
members of our communities—including children, seniors, and people with disabilities—are at
risk of losing their health coverage. Without Medicaid, accessing voice therapy, medical
treatments, and other essential healthcare becomes nearly impossible for many.

Navigating the Maze of Service Authorizations: A Barrier to Timely Care

One of the most frustrating challenges in today’s healthcare system is the process of obtaining
authorizations for services, treatments, and therapies. Before a procedure, therapy session, or
prescription can be covered, patients, their caregivers, and providers often find themselves
embroiled in a web of paperwork, phone calls, and appeals. Prior authorizations, pre-

certifications, insurance reviews, and sometimes even peer-to-peer consultations stand between a
patient and the care they urgently need. (Personal note from Karen Sussman: this has been one of
the most maddening insurance-related problems facing my staff, and likely many other practices
as well. We find that being given misinformation by insurance company representatives is often
the rule rather than the exception. And if their mistakes results in us not getting paid…there’s
nothing we can do in many cases. After submitting documentation several times and making
three, four, even five phone calls with no results, most providers give up, because insurance
companies won’t budge.

For many, this “red tape” becomes a significant barrier. Patients may wait days or even weeks for
approval, during which time health can deteriorate and anxiety can mount. Caregivers must
spend countless hours advocating for loved ones, while providers are forced to dedicate valuable
time and resources to navigating insurance requirements instead of focusing on direct patient
care. The complexities can be especially daunting for those needing specialized therapies, such
as vocal rehabilitation therapy, where delays and denials can hinder recovery.

The consequences of these administrative hoops are all too real: missed therapy sessions, delayed
surgeries, postponed diagnostic tests, and sometimes, outright denial of essential services. For
vulnerable populations, including the elderly, those with disabilities, and families facing
language or technological barriers, the process becomes even more burdensome. The struggle to
secure authorization is not just an inconvenience—it’s a threat to the timely, effective care that
every American deserves.

Telehealth Services at Risk: A Lifeline for Medicare Beneficiaries

Telehealth has revolutionized access to care, especially for those living in rural areas or with
mobility challenges. For Medicare beneficiaries, telehealth has made it easier to get therapy from
the comfort of home. Studies have shown that many services that are delivered via secure
telehealth platforms are as effective as in-person sessions. However, unless Congress takes
action, many telehealth services for Medicare patients could end after January 30, 2026. This
rollback would force this often-vulnerable population back to in-person visits, increasing travel
costs, potential exposure to illness, and reducing convenience—especially for those who need
regular therapy sessions or who face difficulty traveling for care. Here at Professional Voice Care
Center, as of October 1, 2025, we had to discharge several Medicare voice therapy patients who
could only see us via telehealth, due to the government shutdown. Even now, we are warning
Medicare beneficiaries that this could happen all over again as of January 30, 2026.

Why This Matters: The Vital Connection to Voice Therapy, Medical Care, and Health

All these changes impact your ability to maintain good health and communication. Voice therapy isn’t just about speaking—it’s about connecting with others, participating in daily life, and recovering from medical challenges. The same is true for other essential health services: every person deserves timely, affordable access to care that supports their well-being and independence. Barriers to affordable healthcare threaten these fundamental needs, making advocacy more important than ever.

Call to Action: Your Voice Can Make a Difference

Now is the time to speak up. Legislators need to hear from patients, caregivers, healthcare
professionals, and families about why affordable healthcare and access to all forms of medical
care—including voice therapy—matter. Contact your representatives today—by phone, email, or
social media—and ask them to:

• Protect Medicare and Medicaid funding to ensure coverage for those who need it most
• Stop payment cuts to providers so you can keep seeing your trusted therapists and doctors
• Maintain and expand ACA subsidies to keep insurance affordable for all Americans
• Support telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries on a permanent basis
• Simplify the authorization process so patients and providers can focus on care, not
  paperwork

Your story and your advocacy can help shape policies that protect access to care for everyone.
Together, we can make sure that vital services like voice therapy, medical treatments, and
preventive healthcare remain available, affordable, and effective.

Don’t wait—reach out to your legislators today and help protect the future of healthcare for
yourself, your family, and your community!