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Stop Medicare Privatization

In 2003, Congress passed so-called “Medicare Advantage” – a law that gave away $160 billion to private insurance companies if they provide seniors with a private plan as an alternative to traditional Medicare benefits.

But many of these private plans bait seniors with a few added benefits, then jack up the out-of-pocket costs for home health care, physician visits and hospital care.  And the more seniors who get locked into these private plans, the fewer resources there are to support traditional Medicare.

AFSCME supports the repeal of these overpayments to private insurance companies and the strengthening of traditional Medicare.

What's Hot

• Constraining the Medicare Debate
  The Bush administration has just made several proposals — some sensible, some not — to reform Medicare financing and spending. . . . The administration has made no effort to reduce the lavish and unjustified subsidies granted to the private health plans that participate in Medicare. Eliminating them could save Medicare far more general revenue money than reducing drug-program subsidies would. (New York Times, February 25, 2008)
• AFSCME Statement on Medicare Portions of the FY 2009 Budget
  
• Medicare Trend Raises Eyebrows
  Many large employers are shifting costs – and more burdens – onto the federal Medicare program. (Los Angeles Times, February 11, 2008)
• Retirees Unsettled by Benefit Changes
  Pennsylvania retired state workers want Governor to reverse decision to force them into private Medicare Advantage plans. (The Patriot-News, January 31, 2008)
• Testimony of David Fillman, AFSCME before the Senate Finance Committee on Private Fee For Service Plans in Medicare Advantage (January 30, 2008)
  
• For Recipients of Medicare, the Hard Sell
  Many seniors say they have been tricked into enrolling in private Medicare plans, sometimes without realizing it. (New York Times, December 17, 2007)

Medicare Advantage – Background

Click on the documents below to learn about the so-called “Medicare Advantage” program and why it’s nothing more than a stealth scheme to privatize Medicare.

• AFSCME’s Position – Stopping Privatization of Medicare
  
• AFSCME Testimony to the U.S. House on Medicare Advantage and the Federal Budget
  

Events

AFSCME and our partners are leading events throughout the country to educate lawmakers and the public about how insurance companies are privatizing Medicare. Click on the links below to see photos and press coverage from these events.

• Eau Claire and La Crosse, Wisc. (July 12, 2007)
  
• Helena, Montana (July 13, 2007)
  
• Cleveland, Ohio (July 17, 2007)
  
• Las Vegas, Nevada (July 19, 2007)
  

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