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Tell Congress to Stop Medicare Advantage Overpayments
Dear Alliance Activist:
I wanted you to see an article in today’s Washington Post about how health insurance company lobbyists are stalling efforts on Capitol Hill to end large taxpayer subsidies to private insurance companies who run Medicare Advantage plans.
Please email the attached letter to your Senators and Representative, and let them know that now is the time to end this outrageous example of corporate welfare.
With the Medicare Advantage program, all the advantage goes to the big insurance companies. Every person in traditional Medicare pays at least $2 more per month in premiums to subsidize overpayments to Medicare Advantage companies. These subsidies are taking two years off the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund.
The Washington Post article reveals the powerful special interests we are taking on as we try to end this backdoor privatization of Medicare and return it to its original mission – helping all retirees afford their health care.
Our opponents have deep pockets, so our grassroots activism is needed more than ever.
Please email the attached letter to your Senators and Representative, and tell them to end this outrageous example of corporate welfare.
Edward F. Coyle
Executive Director, Alliance for Retired Americans
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Stop Medicare Advantage Overpayments
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
As the Congress debates health care reforms over the next few months, I urge you to end the outrageous overpayments to private insurance companies to operate Medicare Advantage plans.
According to independent studies, we have been paying these companies at least 12 percent more - $7.5 billion each year - than it would cost to directly serve the same people through traditional Medicare. This costs seniors an extra $2 each month in premiums, plus takes two years off the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund.
It is not clear that the overpayments to the insurance companies offering these plans goes to providing benefits. We know that there are ways to help all beneficiaries through improving and enhancing traditional Medicare. There is no evidence to suggest that insurance companies offering Medicare Advantage plans could not compete on a level playing field.
Lately the TV news and the newspapers have been filled with horror stories of these Medicare Advantage companies using illegal bait and switch marketing tactics, confusing and misleading seniors, and denying people the coverage they paid for. This is clearly not how Medicare was supposed to work.
At a time when too many Americans are struggling afford their health care and prescription drugs, it is long past time we stop overpaying Medicare Advantage providers. This money should instead go toward helping seniors, not big corporations.
Sincerely,
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