Even the most well-intentioned government actions risk backfiring when undertaken without due care and deliberation. Incremental, focused change helps ensure outcomes that align with the best interests of citizens. As former state governors, one a Democrat and one a Republican, we understand that principle, one we worked to make a hallmark of our administrations in Kentucky and Louisiana.

Unfortunately, to judge by its aggressive and expanding intervention into the Medicare Advantage market, that’s a lesson the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services may have to learn the hard way. ...

As demonstrated in a recent survey of more than 2,100 Medicare Advantage enrollees, those who speak with a licensed agent when selecting a plan are more likely to express high levels of satisfaction and confidence in the plan they finally choose. Almost 9 in 10, 85%, say they likely could not have found the right plan for their needs without the personal help they received from an agent.

If Medicare beneficiaries value the role of state-licensed agents so highly, why would CMS risk driving them out of the market and leaving beneficiaries to fend for themselves?