Will Medicare Advantage Be Repealed in Health Care Reform?
President Obama insists that those who wish to retain their present health insurance coverage will be able to do so without interference from the Government under any forthcoming Health Care Reform.
He can insist all he wants, but that's not really true in one major aspect. On July 28, 2009 Obama told the AARP that he wants to eliminate $177 billion in subsidies to Medicare Advantage programs which are very popular with seniors because they offer benefits and care coordination which basic Medicare plans do not provide. This means, basically, that he wishes to see Medicare Advantage repealed. However, he smoothes that over with assertions that there will be no change in Medicare benefits to seniors.
I'm presently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan for which I pay a monthly premium. I'm willing to do so because there's always the spectre, when you're older, of catastrophic illness for which Medicare will not pay in whole. This exposes me to the possibility of large medical expense despite Medicare. I consider covering that gap vital to my financial well-being, and I'm willing to pay the current reasonable premium cost for that.
I'm not worried that my government is driven to "pull the plug" on me or grandma, or any of that nonsense. But, I am concerned that a significant part of health care reform may well be financed on the backs of seniors (me for one) as is being argued in many quarters, and, apparently supported by my president.
So, should I kiss Medicare Advantage goodbye?
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I share this concerrn as I am in the same boat. I see no requirement that the insurance companies must provide the same or similar medicare advantage programs for the same or similar cost. I have yet to find a substantive comment saying how this will work. AARP makes most of its money selling insurance, so I have big questions about their advocacy!
Medicare HMOs (e.g., Medicare Advantage plans) have been “overpaid ” for years! They initially provided the great promise of providing all Medicare covered services for an affordable cost- by being coordinated in the delivery of care. In fact, at the hand of huge health care corporations, these plans have pilfered the pockets of millions of Medicare beneficiaries and all workers who pay into the Medicare program and health care providers over these many years. And when the profits run out- they leave a community high and dry. Profiteering is their aim- not the provision of affordable quality health care.