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
- Medicare’s Much-Too-Hard Sell
Congress also must eliminate the subsidies granted to private Medicare Advantage plans. Those subsidies help private plans woo beneficiaries away from the traditional program. And they create a big incentive for insurers to maximize sales through aggressive, sometimes unscrupulous, marketing. (New York Times, May 21, 2008) - 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) - Medicare Trend Raises Eyebrows
Many large employers are shifting costs – and more burdens – onto the federal Medicare program. (Los Angeles Times, February 11, 2008)
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.
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.