The success of a fitness program for seniors is good news that is worth sharing. As Priscilla Farrell of Saco describes it, an exercise program at the Saco Fitness Center has helped her lose weight, discontinue some medications, and breathe easily without bottled oxygen.

Good health is priceless, and Farrell, featured in an article in Monday’s newspaper, said she now feels at least 10 years younger. She encourages others to discover these benefits for themselves.

But she also has a political message, aimed at Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins: Don’t let health care reform jeopardize Medicare Advantage health plans.

We entirely agree with her point that regular exercise is an essential component of good health. On the other hand, we don’t agree that Medicare Advantage plans are an essential part of Medicare.

These “Medicare HMO’s” were intended to save Medicare by tapping the wisdom and efficiency of the free market to bring down costs. That’s not the way it has turned out, and in recent years Medicare has been subsidizing the private companies that offer these plans.

These subsidies mean lower deductibles and extra benefits for those in private Medicare plans, and we don’t blame enrollees for wanting to hold onto them. But Medicare trustees project that its primary trust fund will be exhausted by 2017. Reform is essential, and we believe Medicare Advantage is a good place to look for savings.

According to the federal Department of Health and Human Services, the government pays an average of 14 percent more for Medicare Advantage enrollees than for those enrolled in traditional Medicare. Although some of the money may go to worthwhile programs, there is no evidence that this approach is worth the extra cost.

Health care reform should emphasize the importance of exercise, good nutrition and regular primary care for all of the good reasons pointed out by Priscilla Farrell. It seems likely that bipartisanship can succeed on this point because everyone is convinced that it is better to preserve good health than to try and restore it .

Debate and dispute over health care reform has lately become a wrenching experience. At times it has looked like it may be impossible to resolve the demands on all sides for a perfect bill.

But a spirit of compromise may yet rescue us from our present system, which is the most costly in the world, yet fails millions of Americans. As Sen. Olympia Snowe said last week, “Everyone has differing opinions on how to tackle this historic challenge. Yet virtually every person I have encountered ”¦ understands unequivocally, even if they have health insurance, that the system is broken.”

Health care reform can still succeed, if there are enough votes for a compromise.

— Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen Schulze Muszynski or Nick Cowenhoven at 282-1535 or kristenm@journaltribune.com or nickc@journaltribune.com.