…the administration of its prescription drug program, Medicare D, to private insurers. Medicare Advantage — Medicare C — subsidizes managed care insurance plans for seniors choosing them. Several current presidential…
“Hijacked, Stolen Health Care Reform” by Dr. John Geyman
…enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. This is a clever strategy for insurers in two ways – they cherry-pick healthier seniors without infirmities that prevent their participation in such programs and…
Paul Starr and Steffie Woolhandler on the public option
…the advantage the public plan derives from its lower overhead (as a result of less money going for salaries, profits, and marketing). Here’s the delicate political problem: Unconstrained, the public…
Rep. Ryan’s roadmap for Medicare
…(Medicare fee-for-service, Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D). Payment amounts are income-related and risk-adjusted. For individuals now younger than 55 only, the proposal adapts Medicare’s eligibility age…
Ryan’s “premium support” proposal for Medicare: Myths and facts
…insurers. 2. Myth: Expanding private plans in Medicare will reduce Medicare’s costs. Fact: Private Medicare Advantage plans have raised Medicare costs. Private insurers profit by selectively enrolling the healthy and…
Private exchanges are sending us in dangerous directions
…Advantage and Part D Medicare drug plans. If you go to their website (link above) you will find that most Medigap plans charge a significant premium whereas most of the…
Jimmy Carter says Medicare should be expanded to all ages
…Those who defend the private Medicare Advantage plans have to be reminded that they burn up more taxpayer dollars for administration and profits while depriving patients of choice because of…
Remarks of Dr. Margaret Flowers at single-payer summit
…plan. This committee should investigate how much of our public dollars for Medicaid are going to private insurance administration. Likewise, Medicare Advantage is a private insurance for Medicare patients. Although…
Beware when insurance is too good
By C.V. Allen The Modesto (Calif.) Bee, Aug. 23, 2014 My column on the inefficiency in Medicare Advantage (Page D1, July 29) inspired several letters to the editor. Some were…
Robert Reich supports Medicare for all, butā¦
…private plans will not allow a level playing field. Despite strict regulation, private insurers have successfully cherry picked healthier seniors, and have exploited regional health spending differences to their advantage….
Republicans Defending Medicare: Duplicity Beyond Belief
…Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA), another bonanza for the insurance and drug industries. The MMA established private Medicare Advantage plans (MA) as successors to M + C…
What Trump gets wrong about Medicare-for-all
…to private Medicare Advantage plans that restrict their enrollees to narrow networks of doctors, and often exclude cancer centers and other top-tier hospitals. But the trade-off might not be worth…